Mavericks' Mark Cuban Admits Hiring Nico Harrison Was 'Mistake'

Cuban says he regrets bringing in Harrison as the team's general manager.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:51pm

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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has admitted that hiring Nico Harrison as the team's general manager was a mistake. Harrison made the controversial decision to trade star player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a move that was widely criticized. Cuban acknowledged that if he had still been the majority owner, the trade would have never happened.

Why it matters

The Doncic trade was one of the most disastrous decisions in recent NBA history, and it ultimately led to Harrison's firing just 9 months later. Cuban's admission that hiring Harrison was a mistake raises questions about the team's leadership and decision-making process.

The details

Nico Harrison, who had no prior NBA executive experience, was hired by the Mavericks in 2021 around the same time as the team brought in Jason Kidd as head coach. The move signaled a changing of the guard, as long-time GM Donnie Nelson and head coach Rick Carlisle both departed. Cuban's thinking was that Harrison's strong player relationships from his time at Nike would help the team in free agency, but he struggled to run an NBA team effectively. Despite the Mavericks making the NBA Finals in 2024, many of the key moves during that run were actually influenced by veteran executive Dennis Lindsey, who served as an advisor to the team.

  • In March 2026, Mark Cuban admitted that hiring Nico Harrison as the Mavericks' general manager was a 'mistake'.
  • Harrison was hired by the Mavericks in 2021, around the same time as Jason Kidd became the team's head coach.
  • Harrison was fired just 9 months after making the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.

The players

Mark Cuban

The majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

Nico Harrison

The former general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, who was hired in 2021 despite having no prior NBA executive experience.

Luka Doncic

One of the best players in the NBA, who was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial move under Nico Harrison's leadership.

Dennis Lindsey

A veteran NBA executive who served as an advisor to the Mavericks and influenced many of their key moves, including during their 2024 NBA Finals run.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, in hindsight now, it was a mistake.”

— Mark Cuban

What’s next

The Mavericks will likely need to re-evaluate their front office leadership and decision-making processes in the wake of this admission from Mark Cuban.

The takeaway

The Mavericks' disastrous trade of Luka Doncic and the subsequent admission from Mark Cuban that hiring Nico Harrison was a mistake highlights the importance of experienced leadership and sound decision-making in the NBA. This episode raises questions about the team's direction and the need for more stability in their front office.