Mavericks Fan Takes Drastic Action to Protest Luka Dončić Lakers Trade

Luka Dončić’s unexpected move from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers last weekend shocked many Mavericks supporters, including 20-year-old Jacob Posner.

Posner, a Los Angeles native, became a Mavericks fan because of Dončić. “When Luka entered the league and joined the Mavs, I instantly knew he was my guy, and I wanted to be a fan of the Mavs,” Posner told CBS News. “What makes him great is his basketball IQ, his ability to control the game, and how he reads the game.” The trade, coming out of nowhere, left him heartbroken.

Now, Posner is taking action. The college student has launched a fundraiser to place protest billboards around the Mavericks’ home arena, expressing his displeasure with the trade and his frustration with team general manager Nico Harrison and controlling owner Miriam Adelson for trading away the Slovenian star.

“Our goal is to cover the area surrounding the American Airlines Center (AAC) with protest billboards, sending a message to the front office that Dallas deserves better team decisions,” Posner explained on the GoFundMe page. He also shared a map showing where the billboards would be placed and provided a breakdown of the costs for each one. The total cost would average $82,600, and the campaign has raised over half of that amount so far.

“Trading away Luka Magic has left a big hole in the hearts of Dallas fans. By supporting this billboard campaign, we’re sending a clear and powerful message to the Mavs front office: We won’t be ignored, and we deserve better decisions,” Posner added.

Regarding the content of the billboards, Posner welcomes fan input. However, no matter how much money is raised, fans in Dallas can expect at least one billboard criticizing the trade. “Any funds we raise will go directly to the billboards, whether we fall short, meet the goal, or exceed it. These billboards will happen one way or another,” he said.