THE Dallas Mavericks are on the verge of one of their worst starts in franchise history, and the conversation throughout the NBA is turning to the man who built the roster. President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Nicholas Harrisonfaces growing questions about his job security as the The mavericks sit at the bottom of the Western Conference following Dallas loses 118-104 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
On his Hello partners podcast, Tim MacMahon of ESPN said it was “It’s absolutely a legitimate question” whether Harrison can keep his job as the Mavericks try to stabilize a quickly passing season. “When you talk to people about the Mavericks around the league, that’s the first question people ask,” MacMahon said.
Harrison was given a multi-year contract extension in June 2024, just as the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals. That success seems distant now as Dallas has stumbled to a 2-7 start while fielding the league’s worst offense with a 103.2 offensive rating. Despite their sixth-ranked defense, the Mavericks cannot score consistently, creating pressure that quickly shifted to the front office.
Nico Harrison remained controversial with Mavericks fans
Harrison’s controversial decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season only intensified the criticism. The agreement brought Anthony Davis and other pieces to Dallas in an effort to improve the team’s size and defense. Instead, injuries to Davis and Kyrie Irving have crippled the offense, while Doncic thrives in Los Angeles.
Team governor Patrick Dumont reportedly still supports Harrison, but even that confidence could be tested if the Mavericks continue to struggle. Dallas fans have expressed frustration since the trade, and with the team losing ground early on, the noise surrounding Harrison’s future has reached a fever pitch.
For Harrison, the path forward depends on the results. If Dallas can find its rhythm once Irving returns and recruits Cooper Flagg continues to develop, the pressure could ease. But with the Mavericks’ season already shaky, the clock on Harrison’s tenure seems to speed up with each loss.
