General manager Harrison, who planned the Doncic-to-Lakers trade, was fired by the Dallas Mavericks
The NBA team announced on Tuesday that general manager Nico Harrison had been sacked by the Dallas Mavericks. Harrison’s four-year tenure was marked by audacious choices, including the trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year.
Harrison’s firing comes after the 2025–26 season got off to a dreadful 3–8 start, wiping out all of the hope that Dallas’ 2024 Finals run and the June first overall pick of top talent Cooper Flagg had inspired.
“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,” the Mavericks organization stated in a statement released by the team.
A DONCIC GAMBLE
The February trade that moved MVP candidate and consistent All-NBA selection Doncic to the Lakers in return for Anthony Davis and draft compensation shaped Harrison’s tenure.
Widespread criticism has subsequently been directed at that historic move, which was internally characterized as a reset toward roster balance.
Doncic has gotten off to a quick start this season, leading the league in scoring at 37.1 points per game, after leading Los Angeles to 50 victories and a third seed in the Western Conference the previous season.
As the team assesses his recuperation, Davis has been sidelined by injuries since coming to Dallas. He departed the game against Indiana on October 29 due to a minor calf strain and has missed six straight games.
‘Fire Nico!’ screams have been reverberating at the American Airlines Center arena for weeks as Dallas has faltered to five losses in their previous six games, despite glimpses of promise from the 18-year-old Flagg.
The team’s dismal start and the increasing sense of urgency to stabilize the franchise’s direction are reflected in Dumont’s determination to take action before mid-November.
After assisting in the development of the Mavericks roster that advanced to the 2024 NBA Finals, Harrison, 52, was hired in 2021 and granted a multi-year deal in June 2024. As a necessary evolution, he had openly justified the Doncic transfer, assuring reporters in April that “We have no regrets.”
“Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today, but also in the future,” he stated. “Some of the decisions I’m going to make are going to be unpopular.”
As the organization starts a “comprehensive search” for a permanent replacement, Dallas announced that assistants Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will co-interim general managers.
