“Fire Nico Harrison”. This particular quote became more than just frustrated fan chatter. Whether chanted during Mavericks games or displayed on homemade signs outside the American Airlines Center, it became a rallying cry when the unthinkable happened in February.
Luka Dončić getting traded to the Lakers on February 2 wasn’t on anyone’s prediction list, and everyone blamed Nico Harrison for this shocking decision. The frustration over this move was visible even among internal staff during interviews, including head coach Jason Kidd’s barely concealed disappointment.
Now, months after the controversial trade, former majority owner Mark Cuban has given a telling hint about his relationship with Harrison.
What Was Mark Cuban’s Take on His Relationship With Nico Harrison?
In a recent episode of the “DLLS Mavs Podcast”, Cuban was asked whether he still maintains the same level of communication with GM Harrison that he currently enjoys with majority owner Patrick Dumont and CEO Rick Welts.
His reply? Just one word: “No.”
That blunt answer speaks volumes. Cuban, who became the Mavericks’ owner in January 2000 after purchasing the team from H. Ross Perot Jr. for $285 million, turned the franchise into a championship contender and guided them to their first-ever NBA championship in 2011.
After selling the majority stake of the team in December 2023 to the Adelson and Dumont families for around $3.5 billion, Cuban retained a minority stake and continued overseeing basketball operations. However, his relationship with Harrison has long appeared strained and Cuban’s latest response only fuels speculation of deeper issues behind the scenes.
The tension between the two reportedly began surfacing during the controversial Dončić trade. Cuban publicly admitted at the time that he strongly disagreed with moving the Slovenian Star. Moreover, during this latest interview, Cuban also stated that he disappointed the Dallas fanbase by letting the trade happen.
“We were all hurt when Luka got traded. Me, as much as anyone, because I felt like I let people down by not being there. But what’s done is done,” added Cuban during the interview.
Interestingly, Cuban’s tone seemed to soften just last month. Speaking with SiriusXM NBA Radio, he expressed confidence in Harrison’s ability to run the team and also noted that trades are part of the business.
“Yeah, for sure. You know, trades are trades. I let Steve Nash go, and the whole town hated my a** for a long time, like not a little bit… You know, not every decision is one everyone is going to agree with, but there’s a lot more to being a general manager, and particularly now with the new CBA and the second apron, trying to put together a team and being able to keep together a team is a lot harder,” said Cuban during the interview.
“I let Steve Nash go, and the whole town hated my ass for a long time” 🤣🤣@mcuban joins @termineradio, @jumpshot8, & Ryan McDonough – hear why he still has confidence in Nico Harrison
Hear live Summer League shows all weekend long on NBA Radio! https://t.co/iiUuqRLHYL pic.twitter.com/iBVqgus2O5
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 11, 2025
Meanwhile Dončić continued to thrive in Los Angeles. Before the trade, he was averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game for Dallas. After joining the Lakers, he posted nearly identical numbers as he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game but more importantly, led the Lakers to a 50–32 record and a playoff berth.
Few players in league history can manipulate a defense to the extent Luka does
Doncic stares down a rolling Jaxon Hayes the entire time he’s in the air
That compels Bridges to stay in low-man help a nanosecond longer than he needs to be
Knecht attacks the closeout for a bucket pic.twitter.com/dvvih5vyFX
— LAbound (@LAbound2) March 7, 2025
The Mavericks, in contrast, stumbled and were eliminated in the Play-In Tournament that left fans to wonder what might have been had Dončić remained in Dallas.
With Cooper Flagg now joining the team through the draft, it remains to be seen how the Mavericks will perform next season and whether the apparent bitterness between Cuban and Harrison will finally subside.
