"Fired all Luka’s boys and brought in Kyrie’s boys": Fans erupt as Nico Harrison adds another Lakers coach to Mavs' arsenal with Phil Handy hiring

NBA fans reacted to the Dallas Mavericks reportedly adding longtime assistant Phil Handy to Jason Kidd's staff.

On Wednesday, NBA insider Marc Stein tweeted that Handy has agreed to join the Mavericks. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Dallas has also hired Mike Penberthy to their staff. On Thursday, reports said that Nico Harrison and Co. are negotiating a deal for Frank Vogel to become the team's lead assistant after serving as an adviser last season.

The Mavericks' staff in 2025-26 will feature the reunion of four members of the LA Lakers' 2020 championship staff. Kidd, Handy and Penberthy served under Vogel.

One fan speculated that Harrison purposely fired members of the coaching staff whom former franchise star Luka Doncic preferred.

Zeusbball3000

@zeusbball30

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They fired all Luka's boys and brought in Kyrie's boys 😂😂😂 Nico a savage

LilRevan_

@KoolBreezze8

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The Dallas Lakers

Others were happy to see the reunion of Kyrie Irving and Handy, who were both part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 title run.

🇺🇸⚜️A Horse With No Name ⚜️🇺🇸

@GOGOZEPELLI35

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Oh, I'm happy for him. Him and KD finally got reunited with the coaches they liked the most.

"Phil Handy hugging Kyrie after winning the championship, hope to see y’all re-create this," a fan wrote.

Several fans predicted that Dallas could now win the championship next season.

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@St_Ghost14

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got the Lakers players, got the Lakers coaching staff, banner OTW

Helluva Ball Club

@Letweet23

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They are basically going all in next season! Dallas might actually win it all

According to Stein, aside from Handy, league sources said that former Mavericks player Popeye Jones will also join Kidd's staff. Jones played briefly with Kidd at the start of the latter's career.

Handy and Jones will fill the spots vacated by Jared Dudley and God Shammgod, who moved to the Denver Nuggets and the Orlando Magic, respectively.

Aside from Irving, Phil Handy also has ties with Anthony Davis, whom he coached with the Lakers for five seasons.

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Phil Handy, new additions bring in experience and championship pedigree to the Mavs staff

The Dallas Mavericks have assembled an experienced staff under head coach Jason Kidd.

Phil Handy has won three NBA championships as a member of the coaching staff of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and the LA Lakers in 2020. He made six straight NBA Finals from 2015 until 2020.

Frank Vogel will move to the front of the bench to replace lead assistant Sean Sweeney, who left to take the associate head coach role with the San Antonio Spurs. Vogel last coached the Phoenix Suns before joining the Mavs in May 2024.

Other notable hires include longtime NBA assistant Jay Triano, who served as the associate head coach of the Sacramento Kings last season.

Changes to the Dallas coaching staff come as the team prepares for a deep playoff run next year.