Dallas Mavericks Fire General Manager Nico Harrison: Is Nico Being Scapegoated?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss Nico Harrison's firing, what went wrong and if Harrison was scapegoated.

Nico Harrison, who was hired in June 2021 as the General Manager and President of Basketball Operations for the Dallas Mavericks after a long career at Nike, was officially fired yesterday. Harrison’s tenure started strong, leading the Mavericks to a Western Conference Finals and even an NBA Finals appearance in 2024. However, his reputation took a major hit following a shocking decision in February 2025 to trade franchise superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and other assets. The trade sparked immediate backlash from fans and media, who questioned the logic of parting with one of the league’s brightest young stars.

Following the trade, the Mavericks’ performance quickly declined. Injuries and inconsistent play plagued the team, and by the start of the 2025-26 season, they were off to a 3-8 start. Fan frustration boiled over both online and at games, where chants of “Fire Nico!” became common. With the poor results and widespread criticism, team owner Patrick Dumont decided to move in a “new direction,” officially dismissing Harrison. The Luka trade is definitely controversial, but ownership did have to sign off on the trade. Should they be held accountable too? Is Harrison being scapegoated?