Dallas fans have been repeating the same line since February, like it’s the city’s anthem: Trading Luka? Genius move. And by ‘genius,’ they mean a full-on facepalm. For years, Texas trusted the franchise’s soul to Dirk Nowitzki. He lit the way, passed the torch to Luka Dončic and then GM Nico Harrison somehow blew it out like a birthday candle by shipping Luka to the Lakers.

The fallout sparked a full-blown rift that pushed Dirk away, too, forcing owner Patrick Dumont into scramble mode at the 2025 NBA Draft to win him back. When that Hail Mary failed? Dumont did the only thing left; he fired Nico Harrison.

Now Dirk Nowitzki got real about Nico’s firing on NBA on Prime and said:

“Well, I think there’s just too many distractions, too much going on to keep going this way. This move should have probably happened this summer, honestly. I didn’t want this negative energy and this black cloud over the Cooper Flag era. But here we are.”

Dirk continued, “Now, I just knew— I figured this fan base is a passionate and loyal fan base. I was lucky enough to experience it for 21 years, and I knew they weren’t just going to ‘get over it,’ as people say, or forget about it…It was very sad, it was very sad how that ended, and it feels like the fans feel like they got robbed of actually seeing the end—seeing this through, seeing Luka develop, you know, into hopefully a champion one day. And it feels like they never got to see the end to this. So this was… yeah, very, very heartbreaking.”

For years, Dirk Nowitzki floated around the Mavericks as a steady, loyal presence, always courtside, even after hanging up his sneakers. That was the Mark Cuban era, when the franchise still felt like a family. But once Cuban sold the majority stake to the Adelson-Dumont group in 2023, everything suddenly felt different.

Under Cuban, Luka Doncic getting traded would’ve been about as likely as Kobe Bryant leaving the Lakers. And Dirk himself drifting away from the franchise? Unthinkable. 

But then came February. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon summed it up perfectly, asking why the team didn’t tap Dirk or Cuban for guidance. The response was basically, “If they’re not in the building, they don’t get a say.” Which is wild, considering Dirk and Luka literally shared the same court for a year and built a relationship that still runs deep. 

Dirk didn’t hide how bizarre the whole Luka trade felt. At the time, Luka was stacking playoff numbers (30.9 points across 50 career playoff games) that only Michael Jordan could nod at, ranking alongside Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron in 30-point triple-doubles, and he was only in year seven.

Oh, and he was months away from signing a five-year, $345 million supermax that could’ve tied him to Dallas untouched. And the ripple effect? Brutal. 

Dallas’ offense, once a pick-and-roll machine powered by Luka and bigs PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, instantly lost its engine. Without Luka spoon-feeding them, both bigs looked lost. 

Dirk later explained it perfectly: “You know, you go to the Finals the year before. You give up all these assets to build really the team around Luka… They started the season… 14 of the last 17 going into Christmas. They were just starting to hit their stride and then Luka gets hurt, and unfortunately that’s the last game he’s ever played in a Mavs uniform.” 

Of course, whispers began: Luka’s injury, conditioning issues, and weight concerns. Ironically, Nico had also fired longtime health guru Casey Smith, one of the most beloved figures in the organization and a close ally of Dirk’s from his playing days.

And then more resignations followed. One by one, the familiar faces who made the Mavericks feel like the Mavericks walked out the door. 

But even through the frustration, Dirk closed with the most Dirk line ever: it’s time to “move on,” support the new era, and show up for the franchise that exists now. 

Dirk’s rookie hype meets a rocky reality

Dumont tried to lure Dirk Nowitzki back into Mavericks country this season, hoping the arrival of No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg might be the spark. Dirk had already scoped out the rookie months earlier, talking to Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News. “I had to check out Cooper. The sky’s the limit, honestly,” Dirk said.

He didn’t hold back on the praise: “What I saw—the way he reads the game already at that age, being barely 18, and his athletic skills, I heard his work ethic is through the roof. Everything that I saw and heard is that he’s the real deal. The Mavs fans can obviously be very excited for his growth over the next few years.”

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Dirk was clearly impressed by Flagg’s all-around game and adaptability. He praised the rookie’s ability to score in different ways and defend multiple positions, noting that such versatility is rare for someone so young. It seemed like the perfect setup for Dallas—a new star stepping in to help fill the void left by Luka Dončić and kick off a fresh chapter for the franchise.

But reality has been… messier. The Mavericks currently sit 14th in the Western Conference with a 3-9 record, tied for the fifth-worst in the NBA. Dirk admitted the tough start on Amazon’s NBA on Prime: “I feel bad for my Mavs fans. This has been a disastrous start.” Injuries haven’t helped, with Flagg dealing with a sprained right thumb and lingering shoulder pain from an October collision with Oklahoma City.

Flagg is averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, with shooting percentages far from stellar—but flashes of brilliance shine through.

It’s just a matter of time before the rookie finds his rhythm and the Mavericks begin to see what made him a top pick in the first place. The sky might still be the limit if Cooper can stay healthy and sync with the team.