Who: The Dallas Mavericks. When: Nov. 11, 2025 — the morning after a home game where fans vocally demanded change. Where: American Airlines Center and team headquarters in Dallas. What: The franchise dismissed general manager and president of basketball operations Nico Harrison after four seasons, citing the team’s 3-8 start and fan unrest following the Feb. 2 trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Result: Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi were named co-interim general managers as the club begins a search for a permanent replacement.
Key Takeaways
- The Mavericks fired Nico Harrison on Nov. 11, 2025 after a 3-8 start to the 2025-26 season, the team’s worst opening since 2018.
- Harrison served four seasons, compiling a 182-157 regular-season record and leading Dallas to three playoff berths, two Western Conference Finals and an NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
- His Feb. 2, 2025 trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie remains the defining and most controversial move of his tenure.
- Owner/governor Patrick Dumont announced the move and framed it as a step to restore championship trajectory; Finley and Riccardi will oversee basketball operations on an interim basis.
- The Mavericks lack full control over their first-round pick until 2031, limiting draft flexibility after the 2026 offseason.
- Harrison’s notable acquisitions include Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, and he drafted Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively II.
- Roster construction shifted from a Doncic-centered, perimeter-oriented core to a bigger, defense-first frontcourt under Harrison’s later vision.
Background
Nico Harrison was hired by majority shareholder Mark Cuban in June 2021 to replace longtime executive Donnie Nelson. He arrived with a strong reputation from a 19-year career at Nike and quickly set a bold, transactional tone for Dallas’ front office. Over four seasons the Mavericks won 182 regular-season games, reached the playoffs three times and advanced to the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 2011 in 2024.
Harrison pursued aggressive roster moves — frequent trades at midseason deadlines and high-profile free-agent signings — aimed at converting Dallas into a championship contender. That approach culminated in the Feb. 2, 2025 decision to move Luka Doncic, a generational talent, to the Los Angeles Lakers. The trade divided the fan base and transformed the roster’s identity from perimeter shooting and playmaking to size and interior defense.
Main Event
The immediate catalyst for Harrison’s dismissal came after a Monday night loss when chants of “Fire Nico!” echoed through American Airlines Center and were widely visible during free-throw stoppages. Those chants echoed months of fan unrest that intensified after the Doncic trade and persisted through the team’s poor start to the season.
Governor Patrick Dumont, present at the game, convened discussions and by Tuesday morning announced Harrison’s dismissal, calling the move part of a commitment to “building a championship-caliber organization.” The team elevated vice president of basketball operations Michael Finley and assistant general manager Matt Riccardi to co-interim general managers to oversee basketball operations while a permanent search is launched.
Harrison leaves after orchestrating numerous headline transactions and roster changes. While some moves—like signing Klay Thompson and adding Kyrie Irving at earlier points—were meant to bolster a veteran core, injuries and fit issues undermined roster continuity. The team’s 3-8 start and mounting public pressure ultimately forced ownership’s hand.
Analysis & Implications
The firing signals a strategic reset. On the court, Dallas now faces a roster that lacks the playmaking and perimeter shooting that defined the Doncic era; it is instead tilted toward size and defense. That imbalance may complicate the coaching staff’s options and reduce the team’s offensive ceiling unless the front office prioritizes shooters or ball-handlers in upcoming moves.
Longer term, the Mavericks’ limited draft autonomy until 2031 constrains easy rebuilding via lottery assets. That restriction makes trades, buyouts and targeted free-agent recruitment likelier tools for renovation — options that require strong executive relationships and clear mandate from ownership.
For Jason Kidd, the only coach employed during Harrison’s tenure, the change creates both risk and opportunity. Kidd must maintain locker-room cohesion through another transition while adapting schemes to new personnel priorities under interim leadership and any eventual permanent GM.
The move also reflects a governance decision to heed fan sentiment and short-term performance metrics. Ownership’s willingness to replace a high-profile executive less than a year after a franchise-altering trade underscores rising accountability in sports organizations when results and public confidence diverge.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Nico Harrison (4 seasons) | Recent season start |
|---|---|---|
| Regular-season record | 182–157 | 3–8 (2025–26) |
| Playoff appearances | 3 | — |
| Deep playoff runs | 2 Western Conference Finals, 1 NBA Finals (2024) | — |
The table highlights Harrison’s overall record and contrast between cumulative successes and the franchise’s troubling start to 2025–26. The 3–8 opening is the worst since 2018 and pushed ownership toward a change in leadership despite recent postseason achievements.
Reactions & Quotes
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.
Patrick Dumont, Mavericks governor (prepared statement)
Ownership framed the change as a corrective step to restore a winning trajectory and repair frayed relations with the fan base.
I think I’ve done a really good job here, and I don’t think I can be judged by the injuries this year. You have to judge the totality from beginning to end.
Nico Harrison, former GM (April 2025 news conference)
Harrison, in his final full-season press appearance, asked for full evaluation over his entire tenure and cited injuries as a mitigating factor for recent struggles.
Fire Nico!
Fans at American Airlines Center (chant)
The chant was a sustained public expression of frustration that recurred at multiple home games since the Doncic trade and reached a peak during the Nov. 10 home loss that preceded the firing.
Unconfirmed
- Reports that Patrick Dumont explicitly told a fan he “regretted” the Doncic trade are second-hand and have not been published in an official Dumont statement.
- Speculation that either Michael Finley or Matt Riccardi will be named permanently has not been confirmed; the franchise has said it will conduct a comprehensive search.
Bottom Line
Nico Harrison’s dismissal marks a decisive turn for a franchise that combined recent postseason success with a polarizing midseason trade and an unexpectedly poor start to 2025–26. Ownership chose accountability over continuity, signaling that on-court performance and fan confidence can outweigh past accomplishments.
The immediate questions for Dallas are roster fit, draft and asset management given limited pick control, and the timeline for hiring a permanent GM with a mandate to either rebuild or retool for contention. Fans and analysts will watch whether ownership pursues internal continuity or an external executive with a contrasting strategic vision.
Sources
- Dallas News — news outlet report on the firing and immediate coverage (media)