Nine months after one of the most controversial trades in NBA history, the Dallas Mavericks have taken decisive action by firing their general manager, Nico Harrison. The decision comes in the wake of a disastrous start to the 2025-26 season and mounting fan discontent, sparked primarily by the trade that sent Luka Dončić, the franchise’s star player, to the Los Angeles Lakers. This move, widely regarded as one of the worst trades in league history, triggered an intense backlash from Mavericks fans, culminating in persistent chants of "Fire Nico" and a noticeable decline in fan support at home games.
The trade of Dončić, a player who had been the cornerstone of the Mavericks’ success and a beloved figure among fans, was met with shock and outrage. Dončić’s departure left a void on the court and a bitter taste among the fanbase, who viewed the trade as a betrayal. The team’s struggles on the court since the trade only intensified these feelings. The Mavericks began the season with a disappointing 3-8 record, a poor showing for a franchise that had recently reached the Western Conference Finals in May 2024 and had high expectations for continued success.
Faced with growing pressure and dwindling fan support, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont made the unusual move of publicly addressing the situation through an open letter to the team’s supporters. In the letter, Dumont acknowledged the frustration and disappointment felt by fans and took responsibility for the team’s poor start. He emphasized the organization’s commitment to winning and outlined the decision to part ways with Nico Harrison as a critical step toward restoring the Mavericks’ competitive edge.
Dumont’s letter began by reminding fans of the franchise’s recent achievements, specifically the Western Conference championship won just months earlier on May 30, 2024. He acknowledged that although the team fell short in the NBA Finals, the future still looked promising. Dumont expressed empathy for the fans’ high expectations and admitted that the organization had not lived up to them in the early part of the 2025-26 season. He took ownership of the responsibility to act when results fail to meet standards, leading to Harrison’s dismissal.
Importantly, Dumont’s letter conveyed a sense of transparency and accountability, rare in professional sports where front-office decisions are often shrouded in secrecy. He called on the Mavericks’ fanbase to continue supporting the players and the organization during this turbulent period, emphasizing that the team’s goal remains to bring winning basketball and championships back to Dallas. Dumont closed his message by appealing to the fans’ passion and patience, assuring them that the franchise is fully committed to its mission and to investing in the future.
While Dumont’s statement carefully avoided mentioning Luka Dončić by name, the reference to the "difficult last several months" clearly alluded to the fallout from trading the franchise’s superstar. This period has been marked not only by on-court struggles but also by a significant erosion of fan trust and engagement. The situation reached a low point when the Mavericks failed to sell out a home game for the first time in 24 years during a matchup against the Washington Wizards. This decline in attendance and enthusiasm underscored the severity of the fans’ disillusionment and likely played a role in the timing of Harrison’s firing.
The decision to remove Harrison surprised many analysts and fans, particularly because the Mavericks had just secured the No. 1 overall pick in the recent NBA Draft, landing highly touted prospect Cooper Flagg. The acquisition of Flagg was seen as a potential turning point for the franchise, offering hope for rebuilding around a new young star. However, even the arrival of this promising talent failed to quell the anger directed at Harrison for trading Dončić and for the team’s overall mismanagement.
One key point of criticism was Harrison’s failure to adequately address the team’s roster needs after trading Dončić. The Mavericks entered the season without a reliable point guard, especially with Kyrie Irving sidelined by a torn ACL. This forced the rookie Flagg into an uncomfortable role as the starting point guard, a position for which he was not fully prepared. The team’s struggles in this area were attributed partly to coaching decisions by Jason Kidd, but also fundamentally to Harrison’s roster construction. The lack of depth and cohesion on the roster meant the Mavericks were ill-equipped to remain competitive during Irving’s absence, exacerbating frustrations among fans and within the organization.
These compounded issues—poor roster management, the disastrous trade