For over a month, Dallas Nation anxiously tracked every update on Luka Doncic’s recovery from his left calf strain, eagerly counting down the days until their star came back. But what do they get instead? A shock in the disguise of a trade. The Mavericks thought Anthony Davis would be embraced with open arms in return, but the trade took an unexpected turn that no one saw coming.

The franchise secured Davis with a hefty contract, set to earn $54.1 million for the upcoming season and $58.4 million for the 2026-27 season. For the following year, Davis will have a $62.7 million player option. For a player of AD’s calibre that’s a fair amount to pay. Looking at the Mavs needs in the perimeter, one could also claim that the trade is a good one considering the inclusion of a young Max Christie. Despite that, the move left the fanbase offended and disillusioned as emotions talk louder than logic in the immediate aftermath of a loss.

In fact, reports suggested that the team’s official Instagram page lost 700k followers overnight after the news broke. The Mavs supporters were upset when the page announced the trade with a welcome post for Davis, and they made sure to express their disappointment in the comment section.

Dallas Nation displays boycott placards on social media following Anthony Davis’ trade

“This is a nightmare,” one fan wrote. Losing the Slovenian star was a massive blow, as he had been the face of the franchise for the past six seasons. With no warning or indication, it certainly felt like nothing less than a nightmare to many supporters. The fan further added, “unfollowing,” and probably did just that.

Whereas, another fan stated, “Wake me up from this nightmare 💔💔.” The Doncic-Davis trade came out of nowhere and took longer than expected to settle in. It was so unbelievable that some even speculated that ESPN’s Shams Charania, who broke the news, had his social media hacked. The shock was real, and for many, it wasn’t easy to accept.

“This absolutely s-cks. Mavs just ripped the hearts out of their fanbase. Hate this,” someone commented. After the incredible seasons Doncic had, he built a loyal following. Naturally, his exit hit hard for that massive group of supporters. The emotions were so intense that some fans brought a coffin to the Mavs arena as a dramatic farewell they felt the trade deserved. So, the news of Anthony Davis joining the team was not well received.

“How to lose a generation of fans in one night …..” read one of the comments. And it was hard to argue with that. When the decision was made, the franchise surely knew it would affect a portion of the fanbase who idolized the 25-year-old. However, they might not have expected so many fans to unfollow them on Instagram because of the move. Reports have also emerged that some fans gathered at the American Airlines Center to protest the trade and show support for keeping Doncic. This could also have an impact on their match views and ticket sales moving forward.

“Welcoming who’s coming but doesn’t appreciate who’s Leaving,” wrote a fan. Many supporters didn’t actually have an issue with Davis, after all, he’s a superstar, there’s no doubt about it. However, accepting him as Doncic’s replacement on the squad wasn’t something grieving fans were ready for. “Not a single post even a clear signal just trade a star player, what a shame,” they added.

Whether the bitterness fades once Anthony Davis steps onto the court, or if it lingers and those 700k fans eventually follow Luka to the Lakers, will be something to watch in the coming months. For now, this fan revolt is expected to continue for at least some time.