Copyright New York Post
Nico Harrison lost his job with the Mavericks — and he seemingly wants the world to know it. Harrison was fired by Dallas on Tuesday, and soon after, he changed his Instagram bio to read: “Unemployed.” Harrison took over as the general manager of the Mavericks in 2021 and brought the team to the NBA Finals once (2024) but faced heat and a deluge of criticism from angry fans after trading star Luka Dončić to the Lakers in a shocking midnight trade in February. The team, which did win the draft lottery and selected Duke phenom Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick, has started out with an uninspiring 3-8 record this season. One of those eight losses included blowing a 13-point lead to the Bucks on Monday night. Chants of “Fire Nico!” became ubiquitous at American Airlines Center in Dallas after the trade, and remnants of that carried over into this season. Team governor Patrick Dumont eventually regretted helping green-light the trade of Doncic and fired Harrison on Tuesday, ESPN reported. Assistant GMs Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will now run the Mavericks’ basketball operations in the interim. In an open letter to the Dallas fanbase, Dumont explained that the franchise is disappointed with the sluggish beginning of the season, and it was time to let Harrison go. He explained that the team figured the future was “bright” after the 2024 Finals appearance, but expectations have not been met. “No one associated with the Mavericks organization is happy with the start of what we all believed would be a promising season,” Dumont wrote. “You have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share them with you. When the results don’t meet expectations, it’s my responsibility to act. I’ve made the decision to part ways with General Manager Nico Harrison. “Though the majority of the 2025-26 season remains to be played, and I know our players are deeply committed to a winning culture, the decision was critical to moving our franchise forward in a positive direction. … Our goal is to return to winning basketball in Dallas and win championships. Our family is committed to that mission and to continuing to invest in Dallas and the Mavericks’ future.”
