Dallas Mavericks dismiss GM Nico Harrison after turbulent stretch
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The Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, ending a four-plus–year tenure marred in recent months by heavy fan backlash over the trade of Luka Doncic.
Team governor Patrick Dumont made the decision following a morning meeting with Harrison, according to the club. In a statement, Dumont said the move underscores the organization’s “continued commitment to building a championship-caliber” team.
Assistant general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi were elevated to run basketball operations on an interim basis.
Fan unrest after Doncic trade
Harrison’s standing with supporters deteriorated rapidly after he dealt Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 2 for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. The surprise trade triggered protests outside American Airlines Center and persistent “Fire Nico!” chants at home games, including Monday night’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Dumont’s letter to fans
In a separate letter released Tuesday, Dumont acknowledged the Mavericks’ 3-8 start and said, “When the results don’t meet expectations, it’s my responsibility to act.” Although the letter did not mention the Doncic deal, Dumont wrote that he is “fully committed to the success of the Mavericks” and intends to “return winning basketball to Dallas and win championships.”
Dumont, whose family purchased a controlling interest in the franchise from Mark Cuban in December 2023, had approved the Doncic trade after Harrison warned that a supermax extension for the injured star could be risky. Sources told ESPN that Dumont has since expressed regret over the decision.
Injuries and on-court struggles
Dallas dropped to second-to-last in the Western Conference after squandering a 13-point fourth-quarter lead to Milwaukee on Monday. Davis has appeared in only 14 regular-season games and a pair of play-in contests, missing time with abdominal, adductor and calf injuries. Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL in early March and has no timetable for return.
The Mavericks missed the playoffs last season, bowing out in the final play-in game. They later secured the No. 1 pick in the draft despite 1.8% lottery odds and selected forward Cooper Flagg.
Harrison’s track record
The club compiled a 182-157 regular-season record under Harrison, highlighted by trips to the 2022 Western Conference finals and the 2024 NBA Finals. Dallas went 135-88 in games Doncic played during that span and 47-69 without him.
The Mavericks did not announce a timeline for hiring a permanent general manager.
Source: ESPN
