Nico Harrison Fired as Mavericks GM After Luka Dončić Trade and Tumultuous Season

Dallas Mavericks Part Ways with GM Nico Harrison After Tumultuous Four Years

Nico Harrison, the man who steered the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade, has been relieved of his duties as general manager, according to an announcement by team governor Patrick Dumont. The news comes at a pivotal moment for the franchise—a crossroads shaped by bold decisions, fan outcry, and a season plagued by uncertainty.

From Nike Executive to Mavericks Architect

Harrison’s journey to the helm of the Mavericks was anything but conventional. Before his stint in Dallas, he spent 19 years at Nike, rising to vice president of North American operations and forging relationships with basketball legends like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. His basketball roots run deep: after playing at Army and Montana State, Harrison enjoyed a seven-year pro career in Belgium before transitioning to the business side of the sport.

In 2021, the Mavericks tapped Harrison to replace longtime GM Donnie Nelson, signaling a new era. On the same day, Dallas hired Jason Kidd as head coach—a move meant to reset the franchise after the departure of Nelson and coach Rick Carlisle, who had led the team together for 13 years.

Highs and Lows: Building and Breaking the Mavericks Core

Harrison’s early tenure was marked by aggressive moves. He broke up the European duo of Luka Dončić and Kristaps Porziņģis, sending Porziņģis to Washington for Spencer Dinwiddie, who became a crucial piece in the Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference Finals in 2022. Harrison’s next blockbuster brought Kyrie Irving from Brooklyn, adding star power but also volatility. Injuries hampered the team, but in 2024, Dallas reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011, ultimately falling to their opponent 4-1.

That Finals appearance seemed to confirm Harrison’s vision. With Dončić still in his prime, Irving as a proven scorer, and a roster poised for contention, optimism was high. However, the landscape shifted dramatically in early 2025. In a move that stunned fans and analysts alike, Harrison traded Dončić—the face of the franchise—to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, part of a three-team deal that sought to reshape the Mavericks’ championship window.

The Dončić Trade: Gamble That Backfired

Trading away a 25-year-old superstar is always a gamble, but Harrison believed Davis, paired with Irving and other assets, fit the team’s timeline to win immediately and in the near future. Yet the fallout was swift and severe. Mavericks fans, who had embraced Dončić since his arrival in 2018, reacted with protests and calls for Harrison’s dismissal. Attendance at American Airlines Center dropped, with empty seats appearing in the upper deck—a rare sight since Dončić’s rookie year.

Even as Harrison defended the trade, admitting he underestimated the depth of fan loyalty to Dončić, criticism mounted. Team owner Mark Cuban publicly disagreed with the decision, saying he would not have approved it, though he later credited Harrison for his salary cap management. Dumont, who gained control of basketball operations after Cuban sold the team to the Adelson and Dumont families, had supported the trade, avoiding a massive $346 million extension for Dončić.

Unfortunately for Harrison, results on the court failed to vindicate the gamble. Anthony Davis missed more than half of the first 11 games due to a calf injury. The Mavericks stumbled out of the gate, posting a 3-8 record despite the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg—won in the draft lottery against steep odds. Meanwhile, Dončić joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only NBA players to open a season with three straight 40-point games, intensifying regret among Mavericks faithful.

NBA Community and Fan Reactions

The NBA world was quick to react to Harrison’s firing. Analysts and former players, including Draymond Green and Dan Devine, weighed in, highlighting the perils of trading away a young superstar. Devine, writing for Yahoo Sports, quipped, “Life can come at you awfully fast in the NBA … especially when you trade away a prime-aged superstar.” The sentiment was echoed by fans, many of whom had lined up outside the Mavericks’ arena to demand Harrison’s ouster the day Anthony Davis made his debut.

Despite Harrison’s initial successes—two 50-win seasons, two Western Conference Finals appearances, and an NBA Finals run—his legacy will likely be defined by the Dončić trade. The move, made with an eye toward short-term contention, ultimately alienated a loyal fanbase and failed to deliver immediate results.

What’s Next for Dallas?

With Harrison gone, the Mavericks have appointed Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi as co-interim general managers. The search for a permanent replacement is underway, with Dumont promising a “comprehensive” process to restore stability and reconnect with fans. The new leadership faces a daunting challenge: rebuilding trust, maximizing the talent of Cooper Flagg, and determining whether Davis and Irving can deliver on the championship promise Harrison envisioned.

For Harrison, the end in Dallas is a reminder of the unforgiving nature of professional sports management. Even the boldest moves, if they miss the mark, can erase years of progress in an instant.

Harrison’s tenure is a study in risk and reward—the kind that defines NBA front offices. His willingness to make seismic trades set the Mavericks on a new path, but without the results to justify those risks, the fallout was inevitable. In the end, success in the NBA is measured not only by wins and losses, but by the loyalty and spirit of a fanbase. Harrison’s story is a cautionary tale for executives who seek to rewrite the future without accounting for the heart of their franchise.