Kidd asks Mavericks fans to move forward after Harrison firing
kidd-asks-mavs-fans-to-move-forward-after-harrison-dismissal
DALLAS — One day after general manager Nico Harrison was dismissed, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd urged the team’s supporters to end their prolonged protests and “move forward.”
For months, spectators inside American Airlines Center chanted “Fire Nico!” — a backlash that began when the club traded homegrown superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in early February. The chorus often erupted during free throws, including several critical moments of Monday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
“It was a little disrespectful,” Kidd said before Wednesday night’s 123-114 defeat to the Phoenix Suns. “The guys are playing hard, and they’re trying to win. They got their point across as fans, but we have to move forward.”
Team sources told ESPN that the hostile environment made some Mavericks feel they were at a home-court disadvantage. Forward P.J. Washington acknowledged the atmosphere had been tough. “The people weren’t really cheering us on,” he said. “Hopefully, that changes.”
Washington was at the line with 7:07 left in the fourth quarter Monday, Dallas clinging to a one-possession lead, when the chants first erupted. They resurfaced after he was fouled on a three-point attempt with 1.2 seconds remaining and a chance to tie the game. Washington missed the second of three free throws but refused to blame the crowd distraction. “Hopefully, everybody starts cheering now,” he added. “And they’ll be quiet during free throws.”
Kidd conceded that supporters may need time to process the Doncic trade and Harrison’s removal, yet stressed that the current roster “has given everything” since February and deserves full backing.
Source: ESPN
