Deafening “Fire Nico” chants proceed Luka Doncic receiving a standing ovation from Dallas Mavericks fans

As a Sixers fan who’s spent most of this season laughing through my pain, even I have to admit: what went down in Dallas tonight was some sports cinema, to say the least. I mean, “Fire Nico” chants raining down as Luka Dončić gets a standing ovation after dropping 45 on your dome? You can’t script that better.

And look, we all knew it was gonna be emotional. Luka returning to the city he should still be the face of, the franchise he bled for, dragged back to the NBA Finals just last year… and now? He’s wearing Lakers purple, cooking his former squad like it’s a Tuesday night scrimmage, while the guy who shipped him out of town is getting roasted by 20,000 people in real-time.

Was the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade an inside job? A closer look at a blockbuster NBA trade months in the making >>

You couldn’t hear the PA announcer over the “Fire Nico” chants. You think I’m joking? This wasn’t a few salty dudes in the upper bowl yelling out of frustration. This was a unified, soul-crushing, city-wide funeral dirge for common sense.

WATCH: “Fire Nico” chants proceed Luka Doncic standing ovation

Luka didn’t ask for this. The fans didn’t want it. And anyone with two functioning brain cells could tell you: trading a 26-year-old generational talent in the middle of his prime is the type of move that should get you banned from running a YMCA rec league, let alone an NBA front office. So, it’s “Fire Nico” for eternity.

I don’t care if Anthony Davis was involved. This isn’t 2020 bubble AD. This is the dude with knees made of peanut brittle who misses more games than Joel Embiid in a back-to-back. You gave up Luka freaking Dončić for a glorified question mark and a dream.

Nico Harrison should be in sports jail. Not prison — jail. The one with no windows, no basketball, and Skip Bayless on a loop for 24 hours. Oh and maybe the “Fire Nico” chants on loop while we’re at it.

LUKA DONČIĆ TONIGHT:

• 45 POINTS
• 8 REBOUNDS
• 6 ASSISTS
• 4 STEALS
• 7 THREES
• 57% FROM THE FIELD
• Lakers 112, Mavericks 97

Bro walked into his old house, wiped his shoes on the welcome mat, and took a dump on the living room rug. He didn’t even flinch. No emotion mid-game, just cold-blooded murder. And then when the final buzzer sounded, you saw it: the eyes getting glassy, the look to the crowd during his standing ovation — yeah, it hit him. This meant something.

Because deep down, Luka knows what we all know — this was never supposed to happen.

Join The Chase