Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison is facing immense backlash from fans following the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the uproar and the team's struggles since the trade, Harrison remains steadfast in his decision, asserting he has "no regrets."

The Mavericks, who barely secured a Play-In Tournament seed with a 39-43 record, are slated to face the Sacramento Kings. Since the Doncic trade on February 1, the team has posted a disappointing 13-20 record. However, speaking to Dallas-based reporters alongside Mavericks CEO Rick Welts, Harrison defended the move, emphasizing his duty to make decisions that benefit the Mavericks both in the present and future, even if unpopular. "There’s no regrets on the trade," Harrison stated, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. "Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today, but also in the future, and some of the decisions I’m going to make are going to be unpopular. That’s my job, and I have to stand by it."

Harrison reiterated his belief in a defense-oriented strategy, stating, "Defense wins championships." This philosophy was a driving factor in acquiring All-Star center Anthony Davis from the Lakers as part of the Doncic trade package. "Our philosophy, like I said, going forward is defense wins championships, and we’re built on defense," Harrison explained. "And this trade cements us for that."

However, Davis has been sidelined for a significant period due to a left abductor injury sustained during his Mavericks debut, having played only nine games. Furthermore, Kyrie Irving, who previously formed a formidable duo with Doncic, suffered a torn ACL post-trade, further weakening the team’s starting lineup.

The secrecy surrounding the Doncic trade was deliberate, according to Harrison, who said, "You can’t shop your best player. It’s not responsible because a trade might not work, and then they have to ultimately play under the scrutiny of being shopped."

Fan dissatisfaction has been palpable, marked by protests, including a mock "funeral" outside the American Airlines Center and consistent "Fire Nico" chants during home games. The atmosphere reached a boiling point when Doncic returned to Dallas in a Lakers uniform, scoring 45 points in a decisive victory. Tim MacMahon reports significant financial repercussions, with projected losses in the millions due to decreased game attendance, merchandise sales, and sponsor attrition.

Addressing the passionate Dallas fan base, Harrison acknowledged the need for their support to achieve team goals. He drew parallels to the initial skepticism surrounding the Kyrie Irving trade, which was eventually recognized as a positive move. "Well, the beauty of Dallas is it is a passionate fan base," Harrison added. "For us to reach out goals, we need that fan base. And to be honest with you, every trade I’ve ever made since I’ve been here has not been regarded as a good trade, and so sometimes it takes time. When I traded for Kyrie, it was met with a lot of skepticism, and it was graded as a terrible trade, and you didn’t see it right away, but eventually everyone agreed that that was a great trade."

Harrison hopes that the Doncic trade will, with time, be viewed more favorably. Since the trade, the Lakers have a 22-13 record.