The Dallas Mavericks will reportedly fire president of basketball operations Nico Harrison less than one year after trading away Luka Dončić.
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont was expected to have a meeting with Harrison at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning to inform Harrison the decision. Beforehand, during the Mavericks game on Monday evening, something interesting happened.
As noted by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks owner was seen sitting courtside while chatting with a fan who was wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey supporting Dončić.
This pleasant conversation between Mavs governor Patrick Dumont and a fan lasted several minutes. pic.twitter.com/bPCPi9Wo5o
— Tim MacMahon (@BannedMacMahon) November 11, 2025
According to Ron Harrod Jr., the fan is an SMU freshman named Nicholas Dickason.
You can watch a video of the interaction below:
Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont is sitting next to a kid wearing a Lakers Luka Doncic jersey. pic.twitter.com/XtUmRSzTAg
— Ron Harrod Jr. (@RonKnowsSports) November 11, 2025
Harrod reported that Dickason attended the first game of the season for the Mavericks this season and “flipped off” Dumont and his father told him to apologize for the interaction.
Dumont apparently did not comment on the jersey but, per The Athletic’s Christian Clark, accepted the apology and wanted to “make it up” to the fans.
Just spoke with the fan that sat next to Patrick Dumont tonight…
He said that Dumont told him:
– He felt bad for the Luka trade
– What he did wasn’t in the best interest of the franchise
– He made a mistake and he’s trying to rectify it
– Wants to win back the fanbase pic.twitter.com/9mOqAzvyqg— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) November 11, 2025
A social media account called “MFFL Nation” spoke to the fan (who was reportedly sitting a few rows behind Dumont) to ask about the conversation.
During the exchange, per the post, Dumont said he “felt bad” for trading Dončić and that it wasn’t in the best interest of the franchise. He added that it was a mistake he hoped to rectify.
Mike Curtis had more information (via The Dallas Morning News):
“When I was on the way out, I was talking smack to Patrick and ended up flipping him off on my way out of the game,” Dickason told The News. “My dad saw me flip Patrick off and was like, ‘That’s not OK. The next time you’re at a game, you have to apologize to Patrick.”
Dumont smiled several times throughout the conversation and was receptive to the apology, Dickason said, while stating the governor admitted to a level of remorse for the unpopular decision.
“He said he was trying to do what’s best for the organization,” Dickason said, “and ‘Sometimes you have good intentions and you make mistakes.’ We all do it.”
Curtis added that Dumont was “very receptive” during the exchange while Dickason offered his apology.
Mavs Governor Patrick Dumont “took accountability” for the Luka trade and “accepted [it] as a mistake” with a fan on Monday, per @ShamsCharaniapic.twitter.com/Q1p4MvHLHy
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 11, 2025
ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed that Dumont “took accountability” and accepted that he made a mistake while talking to the fan.
Now, as The Ringer’s Zach Lowe wondered, fans will await if Dumont will publicly offer any further explanation for his role in the transaction.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mavs owner told fan Luka trade was mistake before firing Nico Harrison
