Dallas Mavericks begin new era as GM Nico Harrison fired nine months after Luka Doncic trade

The Dallas Mavericks have parted ways with general manager Nico Harrison, just nine months after the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, signaling the beginning of a new era for the franchise. Harrison, who joined the Mavericks with high expectations, faced mounting pressure following the team’s dismal start to the 2025-26 NBA Championship campaign. His dismissal marks a major front-office shake-up as the organization looks to rebuild trust and chart a fresh direction.

Harrison’s firing came just a day after team owner Patrick Dumont was spotted speaking with a fan wearing a gold Lakers-style Doncic No. 77 jersey during Monday’s 116–114 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, reported Reuters. Chants of 'Fire Nico!' echoed through the arena in the fourth quarter as Dallas blew a 13-point lead. The mood among Mavericks fans has shifted dramatically since Harrison signed a multi-year contract extension in June 2024.

Dumont announced the dismissal of Harrison, who also served as the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations. The decision comes as Dallas struggles with a disappointing 3-8 start to the season. In an open letter to fans, Dumont admitted to 'the profound impact these challenging past several months have had' on the organization.


"This decision reflects our continued commitment to building a championship-caliber organization, one that delivers for our players, our partners, and most importantly, our fans," Dumont said.


The Mavericks have named Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi as co-interim general managers to lead basketball operations while the team begins its search for a permanent GM.

Harrison was hired as Mavericks GM on June 28, 2021, and guided the team to the Western Conference Finals in his first season. Under his leadership, Dallas reached the 2024 NBA Finals but fell to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Just seven months later, Harrison shocked fans by trading five-time All-NBA star Doncic to the West, citing concerns about his conditioning and commitment. Doncic made his final appearance for the Mavericks on Christmas Day 2024, suffering a left calf strain during a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Dallas entered that game with a 19-10 record and stood at 26-23 when Doncic was traded on February 1, 2025. Without their star guard, the Mavericks stumbled to a 13-20 finish and missed the playoffs.