The Dallas Mavericks have parted ways with former general manager Nico Harrison after a 7–15 start to the season and amid injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, as well as Klay Thompson’s recent struggles.
Ten months ago, on Feb. 1, 2025, around 10 p.m., the Mavericks traded away franchise guard Luka Dončić, along with Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber, in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. Harrison has faced nonstop criticism and verbal abuse from fans since the trade, with crowds regularly chanting “Fire Nico” during home games.
The tension escalated when fans distracted Mavericks forward P.J. Washington at the free-throw line, leading to a missed shot that could have been the game-winner in a 116–114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2025–26 NBA regular season.
The Dallas Mavericks acquired Luka Dončić in the 2018 NBA Draft through a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Dončić was selected third overall by Atlanta, then traded to Dallas for Trae Young who was taken fifth by the Mavericks and a 2019 first-round pick that became Cameron Reddish.
The Mavericks were 26–23 before the Dončić trade this season, but he was injured during the Christmas 2024 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dončić left in the second quarter with a left calf strain and has not played for the Mavericks since.
Following his injury, Dallas fell to 13–20 and dropped to 10th place in the Western Conference.
Although the Dallas Mavericks landed the No. 1 overall pick, they used it to select Duke superstar Cooper Flagg. Flagg led Duke to the Final Four in the 2025 NCAA tournament, where the Blue Devils fell to Houston, 70–67.
Flagg, known as “The Maine Event,” is a highly touted prospect from Newport, Maine, who starred at Montverde Academy and later Duke. Born in 2006, he is one of the rare players young enough to be drafted under NBA age rules. His rise accelerated after a USA Basketball scrimmage in which the men’s Olympic team faced the U-17 squad. Flagg’s performance drew praise from scouts and NBA veterans, including Kevin Durant, who said Flagg “played like a veteran despite his young age.”
