The Mavericks shockingly traded Luka Doncic<\/a> last season. Their front office, led by Nico Harrison, came under fire. Chants of \u201cfire Nico\u201d rang around the city, not just in the Mavericks\u2019 arena.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nowitzki recently revealed why working for the team was \u201cweird\u201d. <\/p>\n Nowitzki, like former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, didn\u2019t play a role in the Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>. He stepped away from a day-to-day role with the franchise two years ago.<\/p>\n Speaking to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News<\/a>, he explained why, \u201cI\u2019m still sort of involved, but not really on the day-to-day. I tried that a couple of years ago. It was a little weird for me to be there and not really knowing my role.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSince then, I\u2019ve kind of pulled back a bit again. The last two years, I really haven\u2019t been involved in anything front office related.\u201d<\/p>\n Cuban said he hoped Doncic went 0-82<\/a> with the LA Lakers<\/a> next season. Now that his former superstar is off the team, he doesn\u2019t wish him success on the court. Nowitzki was a little more supportive of his former Dallas teammate, showing up for his Lakers debut.\u00a0<\/p>\n The trade blindsided both Nowitzki and Cuban, but Nowitzki said he\u2019s always there for his former team.\u00a0<\/p>\n He continued, \u201cSpeaking of the Luka trade, I was as surprised and as shocked as everybody. I had no idea this was even in the works. Obviously, the Mavs know that I\u2019m a phone call away if anything is ever needed. <\/p>\n \u201cBut of course, I will always be a Mavs guy. If there\u2019s anything I can help with or if Cooper reaches out or needs me or has a question, I\u2019m always a phone call away. For now, I don\u2019t see me getting involved in any day-to-day business or management type of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2011 champion also offered some advice to the Mavericks\u2019 new number one pick, Cooper Flagg.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dirk Nowitzki offers advice to Cooper Flagg<\/p>\n![\"Dirk](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-484499583-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Tom Pennington\/Getty ImagesDirk Nowitzki said working with the Dallas Mavericks was \u2018weird\u2019, so he stepped away from his role <\/p>\n