Mavericks fans have earned the right to protest

No single player is bigger than a franchise, or the sport itself, but the Mavericks fan base finds itself in a dicey spot. 

On the one hand, it has reason to be peeved with the front office for trading Luka Doncic. Yet, it faces the risk of being labeled a fan base pulling for a player over a team, a reputation many Kobe Bryant-only fans once dealt with.

As the fan base continues to process the Doncic trade, it has earned the right to vent out frustrations over losing a player who meant so much to the city of Dallas. More than 1,000 fans protested outside the American Airlines Center before last Saturday's game, calling for Nico Harrison's dismissal as GM. The pattern followed in Monday's overtime loss to the Kings, with several fans ejected for unruly acts. 

On Wednesday, though, Mavericks fans were relatively well-behaved, thanks largely to Kyrie Irving's 42-point masterpiece that scripted a 111-107 win over the Warriors. Perhaps the fan base had begrudgingly come to terms with the fact that Doncic was no longer a Maverick. 

After the game, head coach Jason Kidd felt the fans were entitled to react how they saw fit. Kidd was asked if certain fans had crossed the line with vulgar signs and chants directed at the Mavericks brass.

"They have a right to speak on what they believe," Kidd told reporters, via The Smoking Cuban's Noah Weber. "…I think it's fair, that's why they're fans. They paid to come watch the game. As long as it's not disturbing the next fan that's come to watch the game and cheer the guys on."