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Mavericks officially announce firing of GM Nico Harrison

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Nov 11, 2025 12:58 PM ET

The Mavericks have officially relieved Nico Harrison of his duties as president of basketball operations and general manager, ending one of the more turbulent executive tenures in franchise history.

The decision comes after months of internal review and growing frustration tied to the February blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis — a move that reshaped the Mavericks’ future and defined Harrison’s legacy in Dallas.

Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will take over interim leadership of basketball operations while ownership evaluates permanent options.

When Harrison addressed reporters after the Doncic deal, he acknowledged the gravity of the move.

“We definitely understand the magnitude of what just transpired,” he said in February. “It’s not lost on us. Truly want to thank Luka for his brilliance and what we’ve been able to accomplish… As we turn the page, it’s important to know that (coach Jason Kidd) and I… we’ve had a vision and a culture that we want to create.”

Patrick Dumont’s open letter to Mavericks fans after the ouster of Nico Harrison: pic.twitter.com/WESxulFRPr

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 11, 2025

He continued: “I’ll say this again: defense wins championships.” He also pointed to contractual factors: “He was going to be able to make his own decision… whether we want to super-max him or not… We felt we got out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer.”

At his introductory press conference in Los Angeles, Doncic described his reaction to the trade while watching a movie in bed.

“The first thing I said, probably three times, was, ‘Is this an April First joke?’” he said. “I was still in shock. I felt like my heart was broken, honestly. I never asked out. I loved the city of Dallas and I wanted to be with the Mavericks my entire career.”

Earlier this year, Harrison acknowledged the trade would define his future with the organization.

“The easiest thing for me to do is do nothing,” he said. “But we really believe in it.”

Time has now told its verdict. The Mavericks finished 39-43 last season and missed the playoffs in the play-in.

This season, even after drafting Cooper Flagg first overall, they are 3-8 amid continued health issues for Davis and Kyrie Irving.

Harrison’s departure marks a major reset for a franchise that once prided itself on alignment between management and Kidd.

Hoops Wire sources say the relationship between ownership and the front office had grown increasingly strained under governor Patrick Dumont. Now the Mavericks are moving quickly to redefine their identity and direction.

Harrison’s mantra — “defense wins championships” — will remain part of the Dallas lore, but it did not translate into success.

His tenure ends as the team moves forward in search of something different.

This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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