Inside the Dallas Mavericks’ Power Struggle: Nico Harrison Dismissed, Mark Cuban Returns to Inner Circle
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Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont fired president of basketball operations and general manager Nico Harrison on Nov. 14, three days after blocking All-Star center Anthony Davis from returning to the lineup, multiple team insiders said. The decision caps nine turbulent months marked by a franchise sale, the trade of Luka Doncic, and an escalating contest for influence between Harrison and former majority owner Mark Cuban.
How the Rift Reached a Breaking Point
On Nov. 10, the Mavericks blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to the Milwaukee Bucks, triggering loud “Fire Nico!” chants inside American Airlines Center. After the game, Cuban crossed the court to meet Dumont, while Harrison retreated to a tunnel, refusing to sit in his usual lower-bowl seat for the rest of the season.
The tension had intensified a day earlier in Washington, D.C. Harrison and Davis’s personal medical staff expected the 10-time All-Star to return from a left calf strain against the Wizards, but Dumont sided with director of health and performance Johann Bilsborough and postponed the comeback over re-injury concerns. The intervention was Dumont’s first direct move in basketball operations since acquiring majority control of the club in December 2023.
Sale Promises Collide With Reality
Dumont and the Adelson family purchased the Mavericks for a reported $3.5 billion on Dec. 27, 2023, allowing Cuban to retain a 27 percent stake. Cuban immediately told reporters and team personnel, “Nothing’s going to change. I’m still running basketball.” Dumont contradicted that message in subsequent meetings, stressing that, as governor, he alone would make final decisions.
The shift opened space for Harrison, hired by Cuban in June 2021, to report directly to Dumont and marginalize his former boss. Harrison’s influence surged during the 2023-24 campaign, when deadline acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington propelled Dallas from eighth place to the NBA Finals.
Doncic Trade Shifts Landscape
Harrison cemented control by engineering the June 2025 trade that sent perennial MVP candidate Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis and draft assets. He persuaded Dumont to keep the talks confidential, arguing that including Cuban would risk leaks and sabotage. Harrison described Doncic’s looming $345 million supermax extension as a poor investment, citing conditioning issues and recurring calf strains. The GM sold Dumont on building an elite defense around Davis.
The blockbuster enraged fans and, according to team sources, spurred Cuban to seek Harrison’s ouster. Dallas opened the 2025-26 season 4-11 and ranked next to last in offense, validating Cuban’s warnings that the roster lacked shot-creators and shooting.
Lottery Luck and Final Straw
Despite on-court struggles, the Mavericks won the 2025 draft lottery and selected 18-year-old forward Cooper Flagg first overall. Instead of easing tensions, Harrison drew further ire by saying, “Fortune favors the bold” and urging fans to “see my vision.”
With public anger rising and the team sinking to 14th in the West, Dumont dismissed Harrison and installed assistant general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi as interim co-GMs. A committee that also includes head coach Jason Kidd and Cuban is advising Dumont while he conducts a broad search for a permanent head of basketball operations. Former Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey, whom Cuban initially hired as a consultant in 2023 and who is now with the Detroit Pistons, is expected to receive serious consideration.
What Comes Next
Dallas will explore trading Davis before the February deadline, team sources said, while planning its future around Flagg. Cuban, described internally as “a consultant, not a decision-maker,” is once again seated at the decision table, though Dumont retains final authority.
Dumont acknowledged fan frustration in a Nov. 14 letter, pledging transparency and a renewed commitment to building a contender. The franchise now faces the dual tasks of hiring a new basketball chief and repairing trust after the most volatile stretch in Mavericks history.
Source: ESPN
