Dirk Nowitzki reacts to Nico Harrison firing: 'Should've happened this summer'

Nowitzki, a revered figure in Dallas sports history and the Mavericks’ all-time leading scorer, offered his first public comments on the situation during the Prime pregame show on Friday. His assessment was unequivocal, directly linking Harrison’s exit to the widespread negative sentiment surrounding the team. "Too many distractions, too much going on to keep going this way," Nowitzki stated, emphasizing the prolonged period of instability that he believes plagued the organization. "This move probably should’ve happened this summer, honestly. I didn’t want this negative energy and this black cloud over the Cooper Flagg era."

The "Cooper Flagg era" reference by Nowitzki is particularly telling, signaling a potential long-term strategic shift for the Mavericks towards a comprehensive rebuild, possibly targeting top prospects in upcoming NBA drafts. Cooper Flagg, currently a highly touted high school basketball player, is widely projected as a future No. 1 overall pick, indicating that Nowitzki, and likely many within the organization, anticipate the Mavericks will be in a position to secure a high draft selection in the coming years. This suggests a tacit acknowledgment of the team’s current struggles and a pivot towards a future constructed around new, young talent, rather than continuing with the previous direction.

Nowitzki’s criticism extended directly to the core transaction of Harrison’s tenure. "This trade just made no sense. It made no sense to them, and really, there was no explanation for it either," he asserted, articulating a sentiment shared by a significant portion of the Mavericks’ fanbase and sports analysts. The trade, executed in the previous offseason, sent the immensely popular and statistically dominant Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, alongside a future unprotected first-round pick and potentially other draft considerations, in exchange for Anthony Davis, a multi-time All-Star power forward, and a package of secondary assets.

The rationale behind the Dončić trade, from the Mavericks’ perspective, has remained largely ambiguous, fueling speculation and frustration. Dončić, drafted third overall by the Mavericks in 2018, rapidly ascended to superstardom, earning multiple All-NBA selections and becoming one of the league’s premier offensive talents. His departure, less than a year after signing a lucrative long-term contract extension, shocked the basketball world. While some reports hinted at potential internal disagreements regarding team building around Dončić or a desire to reset the team’s financial flexibility, a clear, compelling justification for trading a player of his caliber at the height of his powers was never publicly provided by the Mavericks’ front office.

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For the Lakers, the acquisition of Dončić represented a significant coup, pairing him with LeBron James to form a formidable offensive duo and solidifying their status as a perennial championship contender. The move was widely lauded by analysts as a bold stroke that could redefine the Western Conference landscape. Conversely, for Dallas, the trade was viewed by many as a catastrophic decision, dismantling a promising core and alienating a passionate fanbase that had grown accustomed to Dončić’s heroics.

Anthony Davis, the centerpiece return for the Mavericks, is an elite defensive player and a capable scorer, but his fit and impact in Dallas have been subject to intense scrutiny. Through the initial stages of the current season, Davis has averaged approximately 23.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, demonstrating his individual talent. However, the Mavericks’ overall performance has declined sharply, and Davis’s presence has not translated into the immediate team success many had hoped for, particularly given the void left by Dončić’s playmaking and scoring prowess. The team’s offensive efficiency has notably suffered, and the burden of creation has shifted to other players who have struggled to consistently fill Dončić’s expansive role.

Nowitzki, who shared the court with Dončić during his final NBA season in 2018-19, expressed deep personal disappointment over the abrupt end to Dončić’s tenure in Dallas. "It was very sad," Nowitzki reflected. "Very sad how that ended. The fans feel like they got robbed of actually seeing the end, seeing this through. Seeing Luka develop into a champion one day. Felt like they never got to see the end to this, very heartbreaking. But now I think it’s time to move on." This emotional perspective underscores the profound connection Dončić had with the Dallas community and the sense of betrayal felt by many following the trade.

The Mavericks’ current season performance has further exacerbated the discontent. The team currently holds a dismal 3-9 record, having lost six of its last seven games. This poor start places them near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, a stark contrast to their competitive positioning in previous seasons with Dončić at the helm. The frustration reached a boiling point during a recent home game against the Milwaukee Bucks, a narrow 116-114 loss, where fans inside the American Airlines Center vociferously chanted "fire Nico" throughout the contest. These chants served as a public referendum on Harrison’s leadership and the direction of the franchise, directly preceding his dismissal.

Nico Harrison’s path to general manager was somewhat unconventional. Before joining the Mavericks in 2021, he had a distinguished career as a high-ranking executive at Nike, followed by a significant stint as a player agent. His background provided him with extensive connections across the basketball world, particularly within the player community. However, his lack of traditional experience in an NBA front office management role was often cited by critics, particularly after the Dončić trade. The decision to trade Dončić, a move that would define his brief tenure, reportedly received the approval of Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, highlighting the shared responsibility for the controversial direction the team took. As noted in a related report, "Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont let Nico Harrison trade Luka Dončić. Firing the GM doesn’t change that," suggesting that the organizational accountability extends beyond Harrison.

Moving forward, the Mavericks face a critical juncture. The immediate task for the organization will be to identify and appoint a new general manager capable of charting a clear and stable course for the franchise. The emphasis on the "Cooper Flagg era" suggests a likely commitment to a long-term rebuild, which typically involves prioritizing draft capital, developing young talent, and potentially navigating several seasons of struggle before returning to contention. The team’s immediate on-court challenges remain significant, with upcoming fixtures against formidable opponents such as the Utah Jazz (November 17), the Phoenix Suns (November 19), and the Golden State Warriors (November 22) posing further tests for a struggling roster. The path ahead for the Dallas Mavericks appears to be one of introspection, strategic restructuring, and a patient rebuilding process, all under the shadow of a trade that continues to draw strong reactions from franchise legends and fans alike.