The boos weren’t subtle. As the Dallas Mavericks took on the Los Angeles Lakers in a high-stakes matchup, a different kind of noise echoed through the arena—chants of “Fire Nico” rang out from sections of frustrated fans. Directed squarely at Mavs general manager Nico Harrison, the chants added an extra layer of drama to an already pressure-filled night. After the game, Harrison was asked directly how he felt about the crowd’s message—and whether he believes he should still be leading the Mavericks’ front office.
His response? Calm, composed, and brutally honest.
“I get it,” Harrison said, standing just outside the visitor’s locker room. “The fans are passionate. They care. And when things don’t go the way we all hoped, they’re going to express that. That’s part of the job.”
It’s been a rocky season for the Mavericks—one filled with sky-high expectations and equally steep letdowns. After bringing in Kyrie Irving to pair with Luka Dončić, the idea was simple: build a contender. But inconsistency, defensive lapses, and depth issues have plagued the team, leaving Dallas fans questioning the direction and leadership of the franchise. And when the team goes through tough stretches, the spotlight inevitably turns to the front office.
Nico Harrison, hired in 2021 with no traditional GM background but a deep résumé in NBA player relations from his Nike days, has always emphasized culture, chemistry, and star power. He played a big part in keeping Luka engaged and landed Kyrie—one of the most polarizing yet talented guards in the league. But results talk, and the Mavericks haven’t made a deep playoff push since the 2022 Western Conference Finals. The pressure is now mounting.
“I’m not running from it,” Harrison continued. “You take this job, you accept the criticism, the praise, the second-guessing—it all comes with the territory. What matters most to me is doing what’s right for this organization long-term, not just making reactionary moves to quiet noise.”
When asked if he thinks he should be fired, Harrison didn’t dodge. He looked straight at the reporter and said, “I think if ownership ever feels like I’m no longer the right person to lead this team, then that’s their decision to make. But as long as I’m here, I’m going to give everything I have to make this team a championship contender.”
It wasn’t a defensive answer. It wasn’t emotional. It was a man owning the reality of a brutal industry, where winning is the only true metric and patience is always wearing thin.
Around the league, reactions to the chants have been mixed. Some believe the criticism is premature, arguing that Harrison’s bold trades show he’s willing to take risks in pursuit of a title. Others believe his front office has mismanaged key roster-building opportunities, especially in areas like interior defense and bench depth. Still, the sentiment is clear: Dallas fans expect more. And when a team has a generational talent like Luka Dončić, the window for “figuring it out” feels incredibly short.
For now, Harrison’s job appears safe—at least publicly. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has consistently supported him, praising his vision and leadership. But Cuban, too, is known to be impatient when things stall. The pressure’s not just coming from the fans in the stands—it’s coming from all directions.
As the season continues and the playoff picture takes shape, all eyes will remain on the Mavericks’ performance—and by extension, on the man pulling the strings behind the scenes. Whether the “Fire Nico” chants were a one-time outburst or the start of something louder, Harrison knows he’s under the microscope.
“I don’t take it personally,” he said. “But I do take it seriously.”
