Nico Harrison Requests ESPN Withhold Luka Dončić Footage Following 45-Point Performance Against Mavericks
Dallas, TX — In the aftermath of one of the most emotionally charged games of the season, Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison has reportedly made an unusual request to ESPN: to withhold or limit the broadcast and distribution of Luka Dončić’s 45-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks.
Multiple sources within league media circles confirmed that Harrison, visibly shaken after the game, reached out to ESPN’s production and editorial departments in the hours following the Mavs’ 117-102 loss to Dončić’s new team. The ask? To “reconsider highlighting or rebroadcasting” Luka’s dominant performance at the American Airlines Center.
Dončić, who spent the first six years of his career in Dallas and became the face of the franchise, was traded last offseason in a blockbuster deal that stunned fans and analysts alike. Friday night marked his first return to Dallas in a different jersey — and he made sure it would be unforgettable. Luka tallied 45 points on 17-of-26 shooting, including 7 threes, while adding 9 assists and 6 rebounds. The performance drew admiration from fans, media, and even some Mavericks players postgame — but behind the scenes, it hit differently.
“This one hurt,” a team official told reporters anonymously. “You spend years building around a guy, you try to move forward, and then he walks in and reminds everyone of exactly what they lost.”
Harrison’s request to ESPN, while unlikely to result in any actual removal of content, underscores the emotional and symbolic weight of the night. “It wasn’t about censorship,” said one league executive familiar with the communication. “It was about trying to move forward as an organization without being constantly reminded of what could’ve been.”
ESPN has not officially responded to the request, but highlights from the game have already aired on SportsCenter, been shared across social media platforms, and posted to YouTube where they’re trending under #LukaReturns.
For his part, Dončić didn’t gloat. After the game, he spoke warmly about the city of Dallas, the fans, and the franchise that gave him his start. “This place will always mean something to me,” he said. “But I play to win. That’s what I came here to do.”
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are left to regroup — and reflect.