The Dallas Mavericks and general manager Donnie Nelson have mutually parted ways, the team announced Wednesday, ending a tenure of more than two decades with the team.
“I just want to thank Donnie for his 24 years of service to this organization,” owner Mark Cuban said in a statement. “Donnie has been instrumental to our success and helped bring a championship to Dallas. His hard work, creativity and vision made him a pioneer. Donnie will always be a part of the Mavs family and I wish him all the best.”
The Athletic reported Monday that the distribution of power in the Mavericks’ front office was creating internal tension and that Haralabos Voulgaris’ relationship with star Luka Doncic had become strained. Sources said Voulgaris, the Mavericks’ director of quantitative research and development, has been the most influential voice in the front office since he was hired in 2018, clouding Nelson’s role.
“We had two general managers,” a team source said.
Nelson, 58, joined the Mavericks as assistant general manager in 1998 when his father, Don Nelson, was the head coach and GM.
This story will be updated.
