The Dallas basketball team made a notable administrative adjustment earlier in the week, dismissing team director Nico Harrison. The action was initiated shortly after Harrison engineered a noteworthy exchange within the NBA, with Luka Dončić heading to the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis joining the Dallas squad as part of the arrangement.
Dirk Nowitzki, a celebrated figure in Mavericks history, offered his opinion on Friday regarding Harrison’s departure, suggesting that this decision “should’ve been implemented earlier this year.”
“The continuous diversions and complexities made progress impossible,” Nowitzki expressed on the Prime pregame broadcast. “Ideally, this change would have been made in the off-season. I felt it necessary to eliminate this detrimental vibe and overshadowing presence as Cooper Flagg’s era begins. … The reasoning behind this transaction was unclear. It lacked justification for either team.”
Patrick Dumont, owner of the Mavericks, authorized the transfer of Luka Dončić by Nico Harrison. Discharging the director doesn’t resolve the initial action.
John Gonzalez
Nowitzki, revered as one of the most iconic players in Dallas history, dedicated his entire NBA career (1998-2019) to the team. His time included a season playing with Dončić during 2018-19 before he retired.
“It was upsetting,” Nowitzki reflected. “The way it ended was unfortunate. The fans’ disappointment stems from being deprived of witnessing the full journey, particularly Luka’s development into a potential champion. It felt like the conclusion was prematurely cut short, which is heartbreaking. However, it’s crucial to focus on moving forward.”
Dallas currently holds a 3-9 record, having suffered defeats in six of their previous seven contests. Harrison, who joined the organization in 2021, was relieved of his duties a day after a 116-114 defeat at home against the Milwaukee Bucks, during which spectators vocally protested Harrison’s performance.
