It wasn’t even a year ago that Dallas Mavericks fans were on cloud 9. The Mavericks ran through the gauntlet in the Western Conference and made it to the NBA Finals. They beat the Clippers, the Thunder and the Timberwolves to make it there. All on the back of Luka Doncic.

As part of the stunning three-team trade, the Lakers received Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, the Mavericks received Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick and the Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round selection.

But Dallas's stunning about-face with its franchise player may have hit those closest to home harder than anyone. Mavericks fans, shocked and hurt by the trade, came out in droves to protest the deal outside of American Airlines Arena before Sunday's hockey game between the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets.