The Dallas Mavericks are struggling to hold their season together, both on and off the court. Their 130-125 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers marked their eighth defeat in March, leaving fans frustrated and players exhausted. But the controversy surrounding the team goes far beyond their record. Ever since the shocking Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers, Mavericks fans have unleashed their anger at General Manager Nico Harrison, with chants of “Fire Nico” echoing through every game.

While some players have been vocal about their frustration, Max Christie took a more professional stance when asked about the ongoing fan backlash.

In the postgame press conference, Christie was asked about PJ Washington’s strong stance against the chants. Instead of fueling the fire, Christie chose to keep his focus on the court. “Yeah, I mean, definitely not pleasant to hear, but I can’t really comment much on that, to be honest,” Christie admitted. “I don’t really want to comment on that.“

When pressed about how the team manages to block out the negativity, Christie made it clear that distractions won’t define the Mavericks’ season.

“We’re professionals, and our job is to come out here and perform, regardless of the circumstances that we’re in,” he explained. “We get paid a lot of money just to play basketball. So for us, we have little things like that—that may be distracting, but it shouldn’t affect us.“

Despite his efforts to downplay the situation, there’s no denying the tension inside the Mavericks’ locker room. The team is missing key players like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, making every game a battle for survival. With their play-in spot in jeopardy, the pressure is mounting.

PJ Washington Frustrated With Mavericks Fans

While Christie opted for a composed response, PJ Washington had no interest in sugarcoating his frustration. He directly addressed the relentless “Fire Nico” chants, making it clear that the team is fed up.

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“At the end of the day, the trade has happened,” Washington stated. “We understand we have a new team now. All that ‘Fire Nico’ stuff, we’re just sick and tired of hearing it. We just want to go out there and play and for the fans to support us, no matter who’s on the floor.“

Washington’s passionate response reflects the growing divide between Mavericks players and their fanbase. The backlash against Harrison has escalated beyond the arena, spilling into public protests, including a bizarre incident where fans chanted against him at a Medieval Times dinner theater.

However, Washington isn’t just speaking out—he’s backing up his words with performances on the court. In his return from injury, he dropped 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists, proving that he’s committed to turning the season around.

The Mavericks’ season is hanging by a thread. At 33-36, they hold a fragile 1.5-game lead over the Phoenix Suns for the final play-in spot. Their injury crisis has left them dangerously close to falling below the league’s eight-player minimum, raising concerns about potential forfeits.

With mounting pressure from both fans and within the organization, the Mavericks are running out of time to find stability. Washington and Christie have made it clear that they’re focused on basketball, but whether the team can overcome the distractions remains to be seen.