Cooper Flagg remains “locked” despite “Fire Nico” chants.

DALLAS — Washington Wizards beat the Dallas Mavericks 117-107 on Friday night. Mavs fans vented their frustration toward the end of the game, chanting the famous two-word phrase from last season: “Fire Nico.” Of course, the song is about the Mavericks general manager Nico Harrisonthat shocked the NBA world trades Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February. Dallas’ 0-2 start to the season — including a loss to a Wizards team expected to struggle this year — added to the frustration of an already agitated fan base. It may be unfair, but Cooper Flagg he has to endure the chants while on the floor.

Flagg — who was selected first overall by the Mavs in the 2025 NBA Draft after winning the NBA Draft Lottery surprisingly — was not part of last year’s team. He only found out about Doncic’s trade from a distance, since he was still playing his college basketball at Duke. Still, on Friday night, some fans voiced their opinions on the desire for a new general manager.

When first asked about the chants after the game, Flagg said he didn’t even know what the chants were. After being told the singers were saying “Fire Nico,” the Mavs rookie responded.

“I’m just locked into the game,” Flagg he told reporters. “I haven’t even heard it. I’m listening to the coach, I’m listening to the guys on the team, the vets. I’m just trying to figure out as many ways as I can to help the team impact the game in a positive way. I’m trying to get all those things right.”

Flagg’s answer says a lot about who he is. He may only be 18 years old, but he is remarkably mature for his age. The fact that he was “locked in” and didn’t even hear the chants speaks to how badly he wants to win.

Mavs head coach Jason Kidd also addressed the issue, saying fans have a “right to vent.”

“I think they have a right to vent,” Kidd said. “This is a different team, this is a new team. Just let’s understand each other, we will continue to teach each other. So I would say be patient, but I understand the frustration. We all want to win, we all want to compete at a high level. This is a game of expression and the fans have the right to express themselves. That doesn’t stop us from coming to work and preparing for tomorrow and being better.”

The Mavericks hope to play well on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors. Perhaps the bounce effect will quiet the noise.