The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to fire general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday has stirred a complex mix of relief, resentment, and lingering distrust across a fan base that has endured one of the franchise’s most turbulent eras — one defined most painfully by the controversial Luka Dončić trade.
While many supporters had long predicted Harrison’s exit, few see it as a fix on its own.
‘Still apathetic’
For lifelong fan Matthew Slovak, the move was expected — and far from reassuring.
“Every Mavs fan knew the moment the trade happened that Nico would eventually be fired,” he said. “This still does not change that Patrick Dumont knows nothing about basketball. Unless they bring Dirk back in an official role, preferably GM, I will have no faith in who Dumont hires.”
Slovak’s frustration is aimed squarely at ownership, which he says has alienated fans through tone-deaf decisions. The lone spark keeping him engaged: the promise of rookie sensation Cooper Flagg.
Hope, relief — and heartbreak
For Skylar Alcala, a devoted Dončić fan, Harrison’s firing brought a burst of relief — but also reopened old wounds.
“THANK THE LORD! Nico’s decisions were detrimental,” she said. But the emotional damage remains. “There’s a slight weight lifted knowing he’s gone, but the Mavs have a long way to go to rebuild trust.”
Watching Dončić dominate for the Lakers only deepens the sting: “We wish every day he was still in a Mavs uniform.”
A first step toward healing
Long-time supporter John Tarrant — still attending games with his sons despite the chaos — said the firing was overdue.
“The only person upset is Jerry Jones because he’s no longer the second-worst GM in DFW,” he joked.
But Tarrant believes the real work begins now: “Anyone tied to Harrison’s era — including Anthony Davis — needs to be moved. Let’s rebuild from the ground up around Flagg.”
Even so, he remains baffled by the trade that ended Harrison’s tenure: “To trade a 25-year-old superstar for an aging, injury-prone veteran who’s played 14 of 46 games makes zero sense.”
What comes next?
Harrison’s exit closes a contentious chapter, but opens an even more urgent one. The Mavericks must now repair trust, chart a new roster vision, and re-engage a fan base that feels ignored.
As Slovak put it bluntly: “It’s not impossible to salvage things — but leadership hasn’t shown they’re capable of the decisions needed to bring fans back.”
For Mavs fans, firing Harrison wasn’t the finish line. It was the first step of a long climb back.
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