Dallas was completely burned after the loss, while Luka Doncic dropped 49 points

Watching their team start the 2025-26 campaign 0-2, Dallas Mavericks fans see their former star, Luka Doncicwho scored 49 points and made NBA history with the Los Angeles Lakers in the first week of the regular season. After a 117-107 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday, the shouts of “Fire Nico” came back strong. The chant that became famous after the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Lakers felt appropriate Friday at American Airlines Arena.

Doncic’s 49 points led the Lakers to a 128-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. At the same time, the Mavericks missed your chance to earn their first win of the season, which spurred jokes about Dallas, according to The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.

“Luka is 34/4/3 on 15/15 from the field in 3 quarters for the Lakers against Minnesota tonight, with the Mavericks losing to the Wizards at home and their offense sputtering and overflowing like a clogged toilet for Dallas fans in 2025. It really seems like a bad spot for Dallas fans in 2025,” Veceri said.

Some have pointed to Luka Doncic, who scored 49 points against the Timberwolves, 92 points in the Lakers’ first two games of the season, as the current best player in the NBA, while the Mavericks are the best most disappointing team at 0-2. Others pointed to the irony of Doncic’s 92 points, as many as Dallas total points in their 33-point (125-92) season-opening loss against the San Antonio Spurs, as noted by Sam Quinn of CBS Sports.

Klay Thompson on the ‘Fire Nico’ chant amid the Mavericks’ 0-2 start

The chant signaled a fan revolt against Mavericks GM Nick Harrison, who pulled the trigger on the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade — the most shocking trade in recent NBA history. However, after Cooper Flagg, the league’s projected next star, was selected first overall in this year’s draft, it felt like things were going in the Mavericks’ direction. After Friday’s loss, Klay Thompson defended the fans’ frustrating chants.

For Thompson, it’s a sign that the Mavericks should play betterhe said, according to ESPN’s Tim McMahon.

“You have to give them something to root for,” he said. “I’ve got to give them something to cheer for. That’s the nature of the game, man. I’ve been there. I was a fan for 20 years before I got into the NBA. I would definitely criticize the players. We deserve a lot of criticism. We’re the ones who do.”

The Mavericks will look to avoid an 0-3 start when they host the Raptors on Sunday.