The Mavericks fire general manager Nico Harrison amid continued fan concern

The Dallas Mavericks announced on Tuesday the dismissal of general manager Nico Harrison.

Sources told ESPN that the decision was made after a meeting Tuesday morning between Harrison and team governor Patrick Dumont.

“This decision reflects our continued commitment to building a championship-caliber organization, one that serves our players, our partners, and most importantly, our fans,” Dumont said in a statement.

Assistant general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi have been promoted to lead the Mavs’ basketball operations department on an interim basis.

Harrison has been under fire from Mavericks fans since he surprisingly traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 2, months after the then-25-year-old first-team selection led the team to the NBA Finals.

The trade, in which Dallas received Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick in exchange, sparked fan protests outside the American Airlines Center on the night of the deal and before the team’s next home game. That anxiety never dissipated, with “Fire Nico!” The chants have since been heard repeatedly at the team’s home games, including Monday night’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Dumont addressed the reasons for the move in a message to the team’s fans on Tuesday.

“No one associated with the Mavericks organization is happy with the start of what we all thought would be a promising season,” Dumont said in the letter to fans. “You have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share those expectations. When results do not meet expectations, it is my responsibility to act.

“…Although most of the 2025-2026 season remains to be played, and I know our players are deeply committed to a winning culture, this decision was critical to moving our franchise forward in a positive direction.”

Dumont’s letter did not mention a Doncic trade.

“I understand the profound impact these difficult past few months have had,” Dumont’s letter said. “Please know that I am fully committed to the success of the Mavericks… Our goal is to bring winning basketball back to Dallas and winning championships.”

Patrick Dumont in a message to fans: “I understand the profound impact these difficult past few months have had. Please know that I am fully committed to the Mavericks’ success.” pic.twitter.com/MjqModl5QG

– Tim McMahon (@BannedMacMahon) November 11, 2025

Dumont sat on the court during Monday’s game, the first game he attended since the surprising season-opening loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The Mavs blew a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, falling to 3-8 and in second-to-last place in the Western Conference.

Dumont, whose family purchased a majority stake in the franchise from Mark Cuban in December 2023, signed the deal after Harrison convinced him that signing Doncic to a Supermax contract extension would be a poor investment due to the then-injured star’s ongoing conditioning concerns. Dumont has since privately admitted to regretting the deal.

Dallas posted a 182-157 record during Harrison’s four-plus-year tenure, which was highlighted by reaching the 2022 Western Conference Finals and the 2024 NBA Finals. The Mavs were 135-88 in regular season games in which Doncic played during that span and 47-69 otherwise.

In the immediate aftermath of the trade, Harrison said the deal improved the Mavs’ odds of winning a championship, noting that the franchise would have a three- to four-year window to compete.

“Defense wins championships,” Harrison said, a phrase he repeated several times in the media last season toward the end of the season to justify the deal.

Davis, a 10-time All-Star who was sidelined with an abdominal injury at the time of the injury, played in just 14 regular-season games plus two with the Mavericks.

With Harrison under fire, Davis was quick to return to play in the Mavs’ February 8 game against the Houston Rockets, their first home game after the trade. He dominated the first half but suffered a strained adductor muscle — aggravating his abdominal injury — in the third quarter that sidelined him for the next six weeks.

Davis has missed the past six games, five of which the Mavs lost, with a left calf strain. Sources said Davis wanted to return over the weekend, but Dumont sided with members of the Mavs’ medical staff, who insisted Davis should err on the side of caution.

Dallas star guard Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL in early March that ended his season, and there is no set timetable for his return this season.

The injury-ravaged Mavs fell out of the playoff picture after the trade, being eliminated by the Memphis Grizzlies in the final play-in game in the Western Conference. An incredible stroke of luck in the NBA lottery, receiving 1.8% odds of claiming the first overall pick and the right to draft Cooper Flagg, provided some hope for the future of the franchise.

However, Dallas’ poor start and continued fan anxiety ultimately sealed Harrison’s fate.