Mavericks elite Dirk Nowitzki drops Woj style bomb on Nico Harrison firing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Earlier this week, Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont ended the Nico Harrison era in Dallas. Sports Illustrated also reported that Dumont consulted minority owner Mark Cuban during the process, and both agreed Harrisons tenure had run its course.
Harrison faced heavy criticism following the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers in February. This move stunned fans and blindsided Cuban, who received a call as the deal was being finalized. Cuban had been instrumental in pushing Dallas to trade up in the 2018 draft to select Dončić when he served as the franchises majority owner and governor.
Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki publicly supported the decision to part ways with Harrison, saying he believed the move shouldve happened this summer rather than midseason. Nowitzki pointed to the distractions and negative atmosphere that developed after the Dončić trade, adding that it was important for the organization to move forward without a black cloud hanging over the teams new direction. He also expressed disappointment that fans never got to see a proper end to the Dončić era in Dallas, but ultimately agreed with the dismissal. “I didn’t want this negative energy over the Cooper Flagg era… This [Luka] trade… it made no sense to [the fans] and really there was no explanation for it either.
Nowitzki, who launched his national broadcasting career this month as a studio analyst for Amazon Prime Videos new NBA coverage, reiterated his stance on-air alongside Blake Griffin and host Taylor Rooks, saying simply, Its time to move on now.
The former forwards words carry weight in Dallas. Nowitzkis impact on the franchise extends far beyond his 21 seasons on the court. The 14-time All-Star and 2011 NBA Finals MVP transformed the Mavericks into a championship organization, redefining the modern big man with his trademark one-legged fadeaway and unwavering loyalty. He retired as the leagues sixth all-time leading scorer, but his legacy in North Texas is far from over.