Christian Clark

Dallas

NBA Reporter at The Athletic

Reporter covering the New Orleans Pelicans @NOLAnews and @FromTheWingPod. Texas native. It’s all in the game.

Articles

Latest from Heat vs. Bulls and Mavs vs. Kings

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark
Nico Harrison has 'no regrets' on Luka Dončić trade, says 'defense wins championships'

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark

Nico Harrison has "no regrets" about his decision to trade Luka Dončić. On Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks general manager defended his February decision to send Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick, only eight months after Dončić led the Mavericks to an NBA Finals run. "When you look at this trade, we targeted A.D. with our philosophy of defense wins championships," Harrison said.
Mavericks trying to avoid another bad memory against Kings in must-win game

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark

Two of the lowest points of the Dallas Mavericks' regular season came at home against the Sacramento Kings. On Feb. 10, American Airlines Center security ejected a Mavericks fan who called for general manager Nico Harrison's job in the wake of his decision to trade Luka Dončić a week before. Then, in the teams' March 3 meeting, Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving collided with Kings center Jonas Valančiūnas, planted awkwardly and tore the ACL in his left knee.
Pelicans fire executive VP David Griffin after another playoff miss: Source

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark |William Guillory

The New Orleans Pelicans have fired executive vice president David Griffin after the team missed the playoffs four times in the six years while he was in charge, a team source confirmed Monday. The status of head coach Willie Green, who Griffin hired in the summer of 2021, remains uncertain. Griffin's dismissal means the Pelicans will have a new voice in their front office guiding them as they approach a crossroads this offseason.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr thinks an 82-game NBA regular season is too much

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark

Stephen Curry remains one of the NBA's greatest draws. His limitless shooting range, ballhandling wizardry and child-like joy for the game still cause fans to line up around the court to watch his pregame warmup. For more than two years, one of the league's must-see talents didn't play in New Orleans. Curry missed four consecutive games in the Crescent City in the 2022 calendar year. Resting Curry on the second night of a back-to-back was a factor in three of those decisions.
Luka Dončić, Mavericks fans seek closure in Lakers star's first game in Dallas since trade

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark

DALLAS - As the Los Angeles Lakers took the court for pregame warmups Wednesday, the crowd at American Airlines Center loudly cheered for the visitors. Luka Dončić jogged toward the basket the Lakers were shooting on and casually floated a basketball off the shot clock buzzer, and it fell through the net. It was a little bit of Luka magic right away. In his 6 1/2-year run with the Dallas Mavericks, their fans were regularly treated to Dončić hitting all sorts of difficult shots.
Luka Dončić has left Dallas, but his Lakers '77' is seen in and around the city

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark

The morning after the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić, fans gathered outside American Airlines Center to protest the move. They brought signs declaring their Mavericks fandom dead and laid flowers near the statue of franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki. A few fans even held a mock funeral, carrying a coffin to the south plaza as Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again" played in the background. Three dudes brought a coffin to American Airlines Center.
Anthony Davis' dominant two-way effort gets Mavericks closer to Play-In berth

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark

DALLAS - Late in the first quarter, Anthony Davis was the victim of friendly fire. As Davis tried to grab a loose ball, he took an accidental shot to the face by Dallas Mavericks teammate Daniel Gafford, which opened a cut over his right eye that required four stitches. Davis retreated to the locker room for much of the second quarter but later returned to the game with a bandage over his eye. It didn't disrupt what would be his best performance as a Mavericks player.
Anthony Davis, Mavericks blow opportunity for a key win in Daniel Gafford's return

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark

Before Monday, Anthony Davis' record as a Dallas Maverick was unblemished. In the four games in which he'd suited up, the Mavericks had earned wins over the Houston Rockets (Feb. 8), Brooklyn Nets (March 24), Orlando Magic (March 27) and Chicago Bulls (March 29). Saturday, Davis scored 18 points in his native city of Chicago, a morale boost for a Mavericks team that finished its four-game trip with a 3-1 record.
Mavericks show 'fight' against Orlando, grab lead for final Play-In Tournament spot

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Christian Clark

ORLANDO, Fla. - On Jaden Hardy's fifth and final 3-point make of Thursday's game against the Orlando Magic, the Dallas Mavericks guard was assisted twice. Once by Anthony Davis and once by a higher power. Davis drove toward the middle of the floor, and a pack of Magic defenders converged. He kicked the ball to Hardy, who was waiting on the left wing. Hardy's shot bounced on the rim three times before falling in. "It felt good," Hardy said. "I felt like that was God right there.