Published on: November 11, 2025, 12:43h.
Updated on: November 11, 2025, 12:43h.
- The Dallas Mavericks have terminated GM Nico Harrison’s contract
- Harrison’s dismissal follows the controversial trade of star player Luka Doncic in February
- The Mavericks are under the ownership of the Las Vegas Sands family group
The NBA’s Dallas Mavericks have decided to part ways with General Manager Nico Harrison. His dismissal comes in the wake of a stunning trade that sent 2024 scoring champion and five-time NBA All-Star Luka Doncic packing.
In June 2021, under billionaire Mark Cuban’s ownership, the Mavericks lured Harrison from Nike, where he crafted signature shoe lines for NBA legends, to become the team’s general manager. His leadership saw the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals twice and the NBA Finals recently.
However, in February 2025, Harrison chose to trade Doncic due to ongoing disagreements about his work ethic, conditioning, and defensive play. Harrison persuaded Patrick Dumont, the president and COO of Las Vegas Sands and the son-in-law of the Sands’ principal owner, Dr. Miriam Adelson, that offering Doncic a supermax extension would be unwise.
Adelson and Dumont obtained a 69% majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks from Cuban in 2023 for an impressive $3.5 billion.
Was Adelson Behind the Luka Deal?
While ESPN stated that Harrison influenced Dumont, serving as the Mavericks’ governor, rumors suggest that Adelson may have played a more direct role in the trade.
As reported by Casino.org, Adelson’s primary focus appears to be her unwavering support for Israel, publicly denouncing Hamas and its backers as adversaries to the Jewish community.
Doncic hails from Slovenia, a nation that established diplomatic ties with the State of Palestine in June 2024. Though the Palestinian Authority (PA) doesn’t support Hamas, the group is a significant force within the Gaza Strip.
It remains unclear whether Adelson’s sentiments towards the PA influenced her decision to push for the trade of Doncic. Following Doncic’s departure to the Los Angeles Lakers, Marko Milic, a Mavs assistant coach from Slovenia, also exited the organization.
Today, Dumont assumed full accountability for the decision to release Harrison.
“As fans, you have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share those expectations. When the outcomes don’t align with what’s expected, I must take action. I’ve decided to terminate General Manager Nico Harrison,” Dumont stated in a letter.
Cuban Left in the Dark
Adding layers to the Doncic trade saga is the fact that Cuban voiced strong disapproval of the deal. It’s puzzling that the longtime owner, who maintains a 27% share in the team, appeared uninformed of the negotiations associated with Luka’s terms, which included the acquisition of Anthony Davis from the Lakers.
“With all due respect to Anthony Davis, I genuinely believe that if we had received four unprotected first-round picks along with Davis and Max Christie, we would be having a very different discussion,” Cuban remarked to WFAA, the Dallas ABC affiliate. “We just needed to secure a better deal.”