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Pressure is mounting on Dallas Mavericks’ ownership to move on from general manager Nico Harrison.
The Dallas Mavericks present the most intriguing NBA story that will develop in the remainder of the calendar year. Just two years removed from an NBA Finals appearance, the organization looks to be on the brink of collapse.
The vibes in Dallas completely shifted, of course, when general manager Nico Harrison traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1. The Mavericks have gone 16-27 since the deal and have been far from effective on offense. Doncic, meanwhile, is averaging nearly a triple-double (37 points, 10 rebounds and 9.5 assists) this season, helping the Lakers to a 7-3 record.
Fans are incensed with how the Mavericks have played and are making their voices heard. The “Fire Nico” chants from supporters at American Airlines Center started almost immediately last season and have only grown louder through the first 10 games of 2025-26.
As this fuse continues to burn, pressure continues to mount on Mavericks ownership. This group, which took control of the team in December 2023, did not hire Harrison, who has been the Mavericks general manager since June 2021. His future in Dallas now looks to be in serious jeopardy, an incredible fall from grace after he built the roster of a Western Conference champion two seasons ago.
Negativity Is Mounting for Dallas Mavericks
Continued losing will force changes in any organization, but the Mavericks seem to be a unique case. Things have gone from bad to worse in a matter of weeks, which has quickly grabbed the attention of ownership, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein.
“With the Mavericks already in a significant hole when it comes to simply reaching the playoffs, league sources tell The Stein Line that the rising and virtually ceaseless negativity that surrounds the franchise is indeed wearing on and troubling ownership,” Stein wrote on November 9.
Things are not going to get much easier for the Mavericks this month, as four of their next six games are against playoff teams from last year. They begin a four-game homestand tonight, in which they’ll face the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers. Dallas then hits the road to play the Minnesota Timberwolves, followed by a home game against the New York Knicks on November 19.
The boos and “Fire Nico” chants could be deafening by then.
Nico Harrison Could Be Fired Soon
Even though the Mavericks’ ownership group signed off on the Doncic trade last season, the hammer has consistently fallen on Harrison, and it looks like it will ultimately cost him his job.
Stein reported that “it is by no means clear at this juncture” to whom Mavericks’ ownership would turn to run the team if Harrison were to be fired today, which should help the general manager survive in the next month or so.
However, the ownership group could easily move on from Harrison (and possibly head coach Jason Kidd, who was hired at the same time) and begin a total franchise rebuild. Dallas owns a first-round pick in 2026 — which is trending towards being a lottery selection — that it could use to acquire another young player to pair with Cooper Flagg. Mavericks’ brass will certainly want to have confidence in the person making that pick.
Colin Capece is an NBA Contributing Writer at Heavy. His work has appeared in The Sporting News, The Dallas Morning News, USA Today and The Arizona Republic, where he covered everything from Caitlin Clark mania to a burgeoning cricket league. Capece received his master’s degree from Northwestern University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. He roots for all the long-suffering New York sports teams. More about Colin Capece
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