Dirk Nowitzki is rarely one to stir the pot. So when the Mavs legend took a seat on the Amazon Prime set and plainly stated, “This move probably should’ve happened in the summer,” it carried weight.
In
his measured, familiar cadence, Dirk laid bare the grief many Mavericks fans have been unable to shake. The trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers wasn’t just unpopular — it was unexplainable. And Dirk, who spent 21 seasons becoming the embodiment of Mavericks loyalty, made it clear: the fan base deserved better.
He didn’t rant. He didn’t pile on. But make no mistake — this was an indictment.
From praising the roster construction that once surrounded Luka (wing length, two lob threats, Klay to shore up shooting) to calling the decision “a black cloud over the Cooper Flagg era,” Dirk acknowledged what many in the building couldn’t admit aloud: the Nico Harrison era didn’t just end poorly — it collapsed on its own contradictions.
Most powerful, perhaps, was his emotional framing. “It was very sad… It feels like the fans feel like they got robbed.” That word — robbed — isn’t just about losing. It’s about betrayal. It’s about something sacred being taken before it could fully bloom.
Dirk didn’t call Nico out by name. He didn’t have to. The legacy left behind is tangled enough — a Finals trip, a promising young core, then an abrupt detour that still defies logic.
“It’s time to move on.” Yes, Dirk. And thank you for saying it plainly.
The Cooper Flagg era can’t begin in full until the weight of what was lost is acknowledged. And when the one who gave this franchise its modern identity speaks up, people listen.
Now it’s up to the front office to match that clarity — not just with words, but with vision. An experienced, competent General Manager—not consumed by power consolidation—would be a logical and necessary start.
