Dirk Nowitzki slams Dallas Mavericks over Nico Harrison firing

Dallas Mavericks fans are celebrating now that the front office has fired general manager Nico Harrison. He is the same GM who sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, who has spent much of the 2025 to 26 NBA season on the injured list. And now, franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki is weighing in on Harrison’s exit.

Nowitzki says move came too late

Nowitzki, a regular panelist on NBA on Prime, shared his opinion just before coverage of the NBA Cup games on Friday, Nov. 14. The German star said the decision took far too long because Harrison should have been removed during the offseason, long before the current campaign began. His biggest concern was the impact on Cooper Flagg’s development.

“To be honest, this change should have happened this summer,” Nowitzki said of Harrison’s dismissal. “I did not want this negative energy hanging over the Cooper Flagg era. This trade made no sense to fans and, really, there was no explanation for it.”

Sad ending to Doncic’s time in Dallas

The Mavs legend, who wore the famous 41, added that it was heartbreaking to see Doncic’s tenure in Dallas end the way it did. Nowitzki is convinced fans felt robbed by the trade that sent the Slovenian star out of town.

“It was very sad. It was very sad how everything ended and it felt like the fans were robbed of the chance to see the ending, to see Luka hopefully become a champion someday,” Nowitzki said. “It seems like they never got to see how it all played out, so it was heartbreaking.”

Doncic and Nowitzki played together for only one season. The 2018-19 campaign was Doncic’s rookie year and Nowitzki’s final season. Dallas finished with the second worst record in the Western Conference at 33 and 49.

Mavericks struggling on every front

The Mavericks are in a rough spot. Dallas is 3 and 9, and Davis has missed seven straight games. The team’s second option, Kyrie Irving, is still sidelined as he recovers from ACL surgery.

Davis remains the team’s scoring leader at 20.8 points per game in the five contests he has played. Without him, Flagg leads the offense with 15.1 points per game over 12 appearances. Injuries have taken a toll on Jason Kidd’s squad, and the Mavs have lacked consistent availability from Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively.

P. J. Washington and Max Christie are logging the most minutes. Washington is averaging 14.7 points and 7.6 rebounds. Christie profiles more as a scorer, but he is contributing only 13 points a night with 2.8 assists.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.