Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont on Nico Harrison move: ‘It’s my responsibility to act’

The Mavericks have made it official, announcing in a team statement that they’ve parted ways with president of basketball operations and general manager Nico Harrison.

Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will serve as co-interim general managers while ownership begins what it called a “comprehensive” search for a permanent replacement.

The decision comes after weeks of speculation and years of mounting tension inside the franchise.

Team owner Patrick Dumont addressed the move in an open letter to fans on Tuesday, expressing disappointment in the team’s direction and reaffirming his commitment to turning things around.

“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.”

Dumont added that while much of the season remains, the move was “critical to moving our franchise forward in a positive direction.”

Harrison, a former Nike executive, was hired in 2021 and helped lead the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals after adding P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline.

But his tenure quickly unraveled following a series of questionable roster moves, none more polarizing than last February’s trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. The deal sparked widespread outrage among fans and fractured the team’s once-stable front office.

Dallas has struggled since the trade, missing the playoffs last season and starting just 3-8 this fall despite drafting No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. Davis has appeared in only 20 total games since arriving due to multiple injuries, while Kyrie Irving remains sidelined with an ACL tear.

Meanwhile, Doncic and the Lakers are thriving — an optics nightmare for both Harrison and Dumont, who ultimately signed off on the trade.

One fan who spoke with Dumont courtside during Monday’s loss to Milwaukee told The Athletic that the owner admitted he “feels horrible” about the deal.

Frustration in Dallas has been visible and loud. The Mavericks are 2-6 at home, with “Fire Nico” chants surfacing during multiple games, including Monday’s loss — the first home contest Dumont had attended since opening night.

Harrison’s other moves also drew scrutiny. His deadline trade for Caleb Martin left Dallas so close to the hard cap that the team couldn’t make emergency signings down the stretch, even as injuries piled up. His biggest offseason addition, D’Angelo Russell, has yet to find his rhythm, shooting just 37% from the field.

Finley and Riccardi will now share control of basketball operations on an interim basis, though multiple outlets have reported that former Mavericks advisor Dennis Lindsey could emerge as a candidate for the permanent job.

Dumont is expected to take his time with the search, intent on steadying an organization still reeling from the aftermath of the Doncic trade.

For now, Dallas turns the page — and faces the reality that the Harrison era, one built on the slogan “defense wins championships,” never came close to proving it true.