P.J. Washington defended embattled general manager Nico Harrison during the Mavericks‘ Sunday afternoon game against Philadelphia, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. “Fire Nico” chants have been a regular occurrence at American Airlines Center since Harrison made the controversial decision to trade franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Lakers last month.
When a fan yelled out that phrase as Washington stepped to the foul line in the third quarter, he sank the first free throw and shot back, “Shut yo ass up!” After the game, Washington explained why he believes why the fan base needs to move beyond its focus on the Doncic deal.
“At the end of the day, the trades happened,” he said. “We understand we have a new team now. All that ‘Fire Nico’ stuff, we’re sick and tired of hearing it. We just want to go out there and play and we need the fans to support us no matter who’s on the floor. That’s just how I feel about it.”
The Mavericks’ season has been a disaster ever since the trade was announced in early February, with a string of injuries leaving them barely able to field a roster. They were at the NBA’s eight-man minimum for Sunday’s loss to the Sixers, who also had a makeshift lineup consisting largely of players on two-way contracts and 10-day deals because of their own injury situation.
The loss was the third in a row for Dallas and the eighth in its last nine games. Despite the long downturn, the Mavs are still clinging to the final play-in spot in the West, holding a game-and-a-half lead over Phoenix and a three-and-a-half-game advantage over Portland and San Antonio.
Max Christie, who was acquired from L.A. in the Doncic trade, declined to directly address Washington’s comments, Curtis adds, but he talked to reporters about how the players are able to tune out their surroundings and concentrate on the game.
“We’re professionals and our job is to come out here and perform regardless of the circumstances that we’re in,” Christie said. “We get paid a lot of money just to play basketball. For us, we have little things like that that may be distracting and whatnot. It shouldn’t affect us. We’re professionals. We’re the best at what we do in this sport. Distractions are going to be there and we have to be able to move forward and move past them and not let it affect us.”
Things may get worse for the Mavericks, who are rapidly running out of personnel because of their recent reliance on two-way players with limited eligibility remaining. Kessler Edwards, who started at center on Sunday, can only be on the active roster for two more games, while starting point guard Brandon Williams is down to five.
The team suffered a major blow on Friday when Dante Exum broke a bone in his left hand that may keep him out for the rest of the season. There’s still hope that injured big men Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively will be able to return at some point, but there’s no set timetable for any of them.
Hard cap restrictions will prevent the team from filling an opening on its 15-man roster until April 10. That’s the day after Doncic will return to Dallas with the Lakers in what’s sure to be an emotional reunion.
The only good news on Sunday was the return of Washington, who missed more than two weeks with a sprained ankle. He posted 29 points and 12 rebounds in 32 minutes and said he feels “back to normal,” Curtis states in a separate story.
“I’m just happy to be back,” Washington said. “I woke up early this morning just excited to play. Definitely happy that I’m back healthy.”
Maybe it’s just me but I don’t think he’ll win a lot of fans in DAL by saying “get over it.” LOL
True, it would’ve been better if he kept his mouth shut on this one. But I also get being frustrated with those chants as a player. Even if they are directed at Nico and not the players, the players are essentially losing support from the home crowd who have their attention directed elsewhere. Can’t think many players who would want to be a part of that environment.
Of course, distractions are a part of the game and he needs to suck it up. Just saying I can kinda understand where he’s coming from.
I don’t think PJ will win over Dallas fans because he’s not half as good as Luka and the fan base wouldn’t have cared if he got traded for Davis Bertans and 3 Mountain Dew code reds
let’s see what he says if Nico doesn’t give him a new contract this summer in his walk year. Washington contract is up next year. This is just Washington looking out for himself hoping for a long term deal.
Dude. Forget the Luka trade, your team barely has enough players to play games. This is an all-time screw-up any way you slice in. You should be publicly calling for his head as well.
Yes, PJ Washington should be publically calling for his boss’s head.
Deep thoughts.
When it gets to the point where PJ fkn WASHINGTON is defending you, you’re in bad shape
Oh what a big baby. Just play the game and stop being so sensitive. The GM deserves every negative word and Washington crying about it only makes him look foolish. Honestly hope this makes fan chant louder and boo Washington. Lot of talk from a crap player on a crap team.
I would not call him a crap player, but he needs to shut up. This season is over and there is no grantee that this guy will be on the team next year.
He can say anything he wants actually.
Indeed. Nothing wrong with a player wanting the support of the hometown fans
Sure. But players need to understand that alot of these people have been fans of this team for years and will be long after this player leaves or retires. PJ may be in Dallas 1 more year or 10. But he most likely won’t have the same connection to the franchise that a lot of angry fans do. He’s the employee and the fans are the consumers. Sounds to me like he needs to get over it. He’s entitled to his thoughts, but so are the fans.
The situation just sucks for all of them
No that’s true, everyone has the free will to say anything they want. The fans has that right as well. His desire to want fans to support the team in its current condition is neither here nor there.
Washington is a guy you want in the trenches with you. He has your back. Good teammate
Welcome to professional sports PJ…
If the fans don’t show up you don’t get paid…
And with price hikes and lowered on court quality, the fans have every right to be angry and to use their last few games chanting what they want…
Boogie or Kasparas fixes everything. Look to the draft Nico.
Nico must be fired in the off season and now I know why he and Kidd looked like they were at a funeral at the press conference for Lukas trade. Nico knows he is the scapegoat and I am sure Kidd knows he is lame duck coach.
I just feel bad for the Mavs fans, they were close last year. Blowing it up was not the right move.
Mark Cuban said they would be better owners than him. Hmm
Fire Nico!!!