The Los Angeles Lakers just made a move that will be hard for Dallas Mavericks fans to ignore. LA has hired Jeremy Holsopple as their new head strength and conditioning coach. For most teams, this might seem routine. But for the Lakers and Mavs, it’s another chapter in the saga we’ve seen unfold over the past six months. And for fans in Dallas, it’s a painful reminder of what their beloved Mavs have lost. Holsopple reunites with Luka Dončić in LA after both were jettisoned from Dallas, stoking fresh frustration in the Lonestar state, highlighting what is perceived as yet another misstep by general manager Nico Harrison.
"I'm not going to sit here and go back and forth with the guys who we decided to move on from,” Harrison exclaimed. “But we're excited about the team that we have. We feel that the guys that replaced them have done an amazing job. And again, you're coming at me from a negative standpoint, and I look at it from a positive standpoint, the guys that we brought in are better."
Jeremy Holsopple makes the move to Hollywood
Holsopple isn’t just another coach joining the Lakers. He’s widely recognized as one of the NBA’s top strength and conditioning minds, winning the league’s highest honor for his role in Dallas. His track record is built on keeping stars like Luka Dončić healthy and performing. Hiring Holsopple shows the Lakers are committed to player health and wellness, a department long overlooked in LA’s front office. This hire is about investing in the team’s future.
Luka Dončić is now officially the franchise cornerstone of the Lakers. If it wasn’t clear before, it should be after this latest move. With a fresh contract extension and key roster additions like Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, the team is focused on winning now. Bringing Holsopple back into Luka’s orbit only builds that trust. In today’s NBA, player care and personal connections matter as much as talent on the court. This move gives the Lakers both.
Impact on Mavs fan base
Dallas fans watched Holsopple get dismissed and then saw Luka Dončić traded midway through last season. Watching the Lakers pick up the franchise’s former superstar and a well-respected former coach, feels like salt in the wound. The Lakers are not only strengthening their own squad, but doing so with familiar faces from Dallas.
Mavericks fans have not been quiet about their disappointment. Social media has exploded with criticism of the front office. Losing both Luka and Holsopple has shaken the Mavericks community, leaving many feeling betrayed and anxious about the team’s direction. Unless Dallas finds a way to make things better by winning immediately next season, most fans in Big D won’t be happy until they run Mr. Harrison out of town.