Dirk Nowitzki on Mavericks Firing GM Nico Harrison

Dirk Nowitzki has been quite straightforward regarding the Mavericks’ decision to let go of general manager Nico Harrison.

The Dallas icon expressed his thoughts openly on Friday, addressing the recent organizational changes that he believes were necessary to eliminate the uncertainty enveloping Harrison’s position.

“I think there’s just too much distraction and too many issues that can’t continue like this,” Nowitzki remarked during an NBA pregame show on Prime Video, highlighting the dysfunction that seemed to have accumulated over the past few months.

He noted that the Mavericks probably delayed making this decision longer than they should have. “Honestly, this move probably should have happened this summer,” he stated. “We never wanted this kind of negative energy to overshadow the Cooper Flagg era, but here we are.”

Nowitzki didn’t shy away from discussing a controversial trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, which, unsurprisingly, left many, including him, frustrated. “This trade didn’t make any sense, not to the fans,” he commented. “And honestly, there was no real explanation for it.”

He pointed out that the way the contract was managed only added to the disconnect between the front office and the fanbase.

There’s been a growing wave of “Fire Nico” chants echoing at Mavericks games and across social media, even after the team managed to win the NBA Draft lottery. Despite relatively low odds, they selected promising player Cooper Flagg with the first pick, but uncertainty looms about his consistent role given the current state of the team.

Nowitzki remarked that this situation had hindered fans from witnessing Doncic’s journey toward potential greatness. “It was very disappointing how it ended. The fans deserved to watch him grow into hopefully becoming a champion one day,” he reflected. “It feels like they never got to see the conclusion of this.”

He acknowledged the heartbreak surrounding the situation but remained hopeful. “I think it’s time to move on and focus on this team and franchise. Clearly, we need to bring it back together. The team’s struggling, and we could use all the support possible. I’m optimistic we can have a successful year ahead and lift the team’s spirits.”