Key Highlights
- Dirk Nowitzki criticizes the decision to keep general manager Nico Harrison, saying it’s time for him to be fired sooner.
- The firing of Harrison comes after controversial trades and a negative fan response.
- Nowitzki also expresses disappointment over the Luka Doncic trade with the Lakers.
- The Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg in the NBA Draft Lottery, but Nowitzki feels this didn’t make up for past decisions.
Mavericks’ Future Hangs by a Thread
Former Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki is vocal about his concerns regarding the team’s recent moves. Speaking during Prime Video’s NBA pregame show on November 14, 2025, Nowitzki expressed that the organization should have fired general manager Nico Harrison earlier this week.
“I think there’s just too many distractions, too much going on to keep going this way,” Nowitzki stated. “This move should have probably happened this summer, honestly.”
A Cloud of Uncertainty
Nowitzki elaborated that the uncertainty surrounding Harrison’s tenure had become a significant distraction for the team and its fans. The hall-of-famer pointed out the dysfunction within the organization over the past several months as a primary reason for his stance.
“This move should have probably happened this summer, honestly,” Nowitzki added. “I didn’t want this negative energy and this black cloud over the Cooper Flagg era, but here we are now.”
The Luka Doncic Trade
Nowitzki’s comments extend beyond Harrison to include his thoughts on the controversial February trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for a package highlighted by Anthony Davis. The Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg at No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft Lottery despite having no clear path for him to succeed.
“This trade just made no sense,” Nowitzki said. “It made no sense to the fans, and really, there was no explanation for it, either.”
The player-turned-commentator also noted that the way the deal was handled contributed significantly to the disconnect between the front office and the fanbase.
Impact on the Fanbase
“Fire Nico” chants became a theme in Mavericks games and on social media. Nowitzki felt this negative energy overshadowed their ultimate luck in winning the NBA Draft Lottery, selecting Cooper Flagg at No. 1 overall. The 18-year-old Duke product, projected to be a future star, hasn’t lived up to expectations yet.
“It was very sad how that ended,” Nowitzki said. “And it felt like the fans feel like they got robbed of actually seeing the end, seeing this through, seeing Luka develop into hopefully a champion one day.”
The Road Ahead
Despite the challenges, Nowitzki remains optimistic about the future of the Mavericks. He emphasized that the team needs to move on from past mistakes and focus on building back up.
“This definitely set the franchise back but now it’s about building it back up,” he added. “Obviously, this team is struggling a bit. It needs the support, all they can get.
Hopefully, we can have a good year here from now on and cheer the team up.”
With the Mavericks entering a new era without Harrison, Nowitzki’s comments highlight the need for stability and direction in the franchise. As the organization moves forward, it will be crucial to address the concerns raised by its former star.
