Nov 8, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

With the losing, the injuries and the negativity mounting, league sources said Dumont was hearing from the man whose choice to sell the team to him opened the door to this disaster in the first place. Cuban, who still owns 27 percent of the team, was known to be frustrated with Harrison for freezing him out after the sale and not consulting him on the choice to trade Luka Doncic. League sources say he made his case to Dumont over the last several months that Harrison was steering the franchise in the wrong direction.

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Zach Lowe: I've definitely heard that there were people once they found out who tried to if not stop it then say, "Hey, let's let's pause, reconsider." I don't know where (Michael Finley and Matt Ricardi) stood. Um but if you if you can't if these guys can't come out and truthfully say in a way that no one else in those rooms can rebut privately, according to sources, that they stood up against this trade, I don't think they're going to last as as the co-GMs of the team. YouTube | Nov. 12, 2025

With the losing, the injuries and the negativity mounting, league sources said Dumont was hearing from the man whose choice to sell the team to him opened the door to this disaster in the first place. Cuban, who still owns 27 percent of the team, was known to be frustrated with Harrison for freezing him out after the sale and not consulting him on the choice to trade Luka Doncic. League sources say he made his case to Dumont over the last several months that Harrison was steering the franchise in the wrong direction. New York Times | Nov. 12, 2025

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.” Although a portion of Dickason’s talk with Dumont centered on the trade and his history as a Mavericks fan, which he’s been since he was “4 or 5” years old, the message he wanted to share was his apology. “I shouldn’t have flipped him off on opening night,” Dickason said. “Heat of the moment thing, and I had to go apologize for that. He was very receptive and very open to talking about the Mavericks.” Dallas Morning News | Nov. 11, 2025

A teenager wearing a gold Los Angeles Lakers version of Doncic’s No. 77 jersey sat next to Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont for roughly five minutes while the two shared a conversation Monday. The scene was perplexing, given Dumont was a strong supporter of general manager Nico Harrison’s decision to deal Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for a package headlined by Anthony Davis. Dallas Morning News | Nov. 11, 2025

And while Reaves learned years ago how to thrive alongside James, he has quickly developed a communication style with Luka Doncic that is all their own. Their friendship, or "bromance," as multiple team sources described it to ESPN, runs on a steady stream of teasing and locker room humor. When Reaves told ESPN he thought Doncic could average 40 points this season, Luka smirked and said, "Austin's stupid." Days later, asked to describe Doncic, Reaves answered, "He's an idiot." "They both realized that they both enjoy talking trash -- a lot," Redick said. "And their personalities in that regard are very similar. And so they can create a little bit of chemistry with each other just by being their natural selves." ESPN | Nov. 11, 2025

The last time Luka Doncic had a half-court dunk where he hung from the rim was during the 2023 preseason. Dončić has preferred to save his legs. But he did point out that he has more dunks this season than Austin Reaves, who returned to action Monday night in Charlotte after missing three games with a groin strain. “He’s a hater,” Dončić said of Reaves. “He’s got zero. No, it was good. I can dunk. I just don’t want to do it all the time.” “I have layups; they’re all worth 2 points,” said Reaves, who teamed up with Dončić to drop seven assists apiece against the Hornets. New York Times | Nov. 11, 2025

Shams Charania: The Mavericks are firing Harrison nine months after the jarring and stunning Luka Doncic trade – a move for which Dumont took accountability and accepted as a mistake in a court-side interaction with a fan on Monday night. x.com | Nov. 11, 2025

First Take: .@stephenasmith: "Who was the person that insisted Luka Doncic needed to go?" @ShamsCharania: "It was Nico Harrison. It was Nico Harrison's decision ... pitch ... idea, to trade Luka Doncic." Twitter | Nov. 11, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mark Cuban was frustrated with Nico Harrison for not involving him in decision to trade Luka Doncic

Reporting by HoopsHype / Hoops Hype

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