Jason Kidd was asked just one question about Wednesday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns during his pregame news conference.
The rest of the questions were about how the Dallas Mavericks plan to move forward without general manager Nico Harrison, who was fired on Tuesday.
“Yesterday was a tough day for everyone,” Kidd said before the Mavericks hosted the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. “Anytime you lose someone you spent the last four years with, it’s tough. When you look at the NBA, the season keeps going. We have to continue to push forward and that’s what we’re committed to.”
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Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont made the decision to dismiss Harrison amid a 3-8 record, which is the franchise’s worst 11-game start since 2018. Assistant general managers Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley will co-lead the team’s basketball operations department on an interim basis, while the team conducts a comprehensive search for Harrison’s successor.
Kidd and Harrison were hired simultaneously by Mavericks minority shareholder Mark Cuban during the 2021 offseason. The fifth-year coach signed a contract extension before the season began.
Matt Riccardi, Dallas Mavericks co-interim general manager, left, speaks to Phoenix Suns General Manager Brian Gregory before an NBA basketball game at American Airlines Center, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Dallas.
Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer
When asked how much influence he wants to have while the Mavericks are without a full-time general manager, the fifth-year coach said his focus remains on helping the team win.
“I think it’s for them to do their job in the front office,” Kidd said. “I think we have a lot of confidence in Fin and Riccardi. If they ask me for my input, I will be able to give it. But again, my focus is the team and making sure that we’re prepared for the Suns tonight and any other game that we go forward with.”
Harrison orchestrated a team that helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals in 2024 for the first time since the franchise’s championship season in 2011. However, his legacy in Dallas will always be known for trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, which created a disgruntled fanbase that chanted “Fire Nico!” during home games and most notably, while the Mavericks were at the free-throw line.
P.J. Washington was often subjected to those chants while he was at the stripe, including during the fourth quarter of Monday’s loss to the Bucks. He and Gafford were also made available to reporters ahead of Wednesday’s game.
“I thanked Nico for what he did for me,” said Washington, who was acquired with Daniel Gafford by Harrison during the 2023-24 season. “He believed in this group. So do I.”
As for the environment at American Airlines Center, Washington hopes the fans turn those jeers for Harrison into cheers for the home team.
“I guess we’ll see tonight,” Washington said. “Hopefully everybody starts cheering now and is quiet during free throws. We’ll see.”
Gafford said he was surprised by the decision, but also insisted that the team should focus on what they can control on the court.
“The outlook of it for the team, is it’s just the business of basketball,” Gafford said. “Our main focus right now is the basketball side. We can’t really focus on what goes on behind the scenes and all the stuff that goes on in the front office. We got games to win, at the end of the day.”
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