After firing general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, November 11, Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont addressed his decision in an open letter to fans.
Following a 3-8 start to the season, pressure was mounting on Mavericks’ ownership to move on from Harrison, who made the decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last February. Chants of “Fire Nico” rained down in American Airlines Center during a 116-114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on November 10, as fans have grown increasingly restless with the product on the court.
“No one associated with the Mavericks organization is happy with the start of what we all believed would be a promising season,” Dumont wrote in his letter. “You have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share them with you. When the results don’t meet expectations, it’s my responsibility to act. I’ve made the decision to part ways with General Manager Nico Harrison.”
Assistant general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will run the Mavericks’ front office in the interim as the team begins its search for a new general manager.
Dallas Mavericks Owner Pens Open Letter To Fans
One year after reaching the NBA Finals, the Mavericks are firing Harrison, the architect of the 2024 Western Conference champions. The situation in Dallas has disintegrated shockingly fast since Doncic was traded for Anthony Davis on February 1.
Dumont did not mention Doncic or Davis by name in his letter, but he acknowledged things have not gone the way fans had hoped.
“On May 30, 2024, the Mavericks won the Western Conference championship. We came up short in the NBA Finals, but we all agreed our future was bright,” Dumont wrote. “As fans of this franchise, you have every right to demand a commitment to success from us. I understand the profound impact these difficult last several months have had.”
Dumont also thanked the fans for their passion. They have certainly made their voices heard over the last 11 months, both inside and outside of the arena.
“Thank you for your support, thank you for holding us accountable, and thank you for your passion and for your patience,” Dumont wrote. “You deserve transparency and a team that reflects your spirit. Our goal is to return winning basketball to Dallas and win championships. Our family is committed to that mission and to continuing to invest in Dallas and the Mavericks’ future.”
Dallas Mavericks Moving On From Nico Harrison
Finley and Riccardi will immediately begin serving as co-interim general managers.
Finley has been in the Mavericks’ front office since 2012. He had a 15-year NBA career as a player, including nine seasons with Dallas from 1996 to 2005. He was named an All-Star in 2000 and 2001 and won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007.
Riccardi joined the Mavericks’ front office in 2022. He began his career in pro basketball as a scout for the then NBA D-League team the Long Island Nets before ultimately becoming the Brooklyn Nets’ director of scouting operations. He was hired by the Mavericks as a senior director of pro personnel and was promoted to assistant GM under Harrison in 2023.
Plenty of candidates for the Mavericks’ opening at general manager are already being discussed, including former championship-winning executives Bob Myers and Masai Ujiri. The Mavericks said in a statement that a “comprehensive search will begin for a permanent replacement.”
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