Mavericks finally fire the Nico Harrison hire at the center of a major controversy

This offseason has become one of sweeping change for the Dallas Mavericks, as the organization continues to respond to the fallout from the Luka Doncic trade that reshaped everything. The full impact has yet to be realized, but the moves keep coming. Most recently, Dallas parted ways with director of health and performance Johann Bilsborough (hired by former general manager Nico Harrison) after just two seasons.

Nico Harrison's chain of controversial moves

Bilsborough’s tenure in Dallas was… rocky, to say the least. Harrison brought him on board following the abrupt dismissal of longtime director of player health and performance, Casey Smith, in 2023 — a move that was later widely criticized. Smith had been a respected and trusted presence in Dallas for nearly two decades, earning praise from franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki, who credited him with helping extend his storied 21-year career.

Nonetheless, Harrison moved forward with the decision to part ways with Smith. It was a move that grew more controversial two years later. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Smith was dismissed while away from the team attending to his ill mother in Ohio. McMahon also reported that the decision was not strictly performance-based, but instead stemmed from Harrison feeling challenged by the longtime director.

With Bilsborough replacing Smith, Harrison also brought in Keith Belton as athletic performance director as part of a broader overhaul. Those moves, however, quickly ran into trouble. A reported rift between the two staffers escalated over the course of the season, culminating in a near-physical confrontation after months of tension. Dallas ultimately parted ways with the seemingly underqualified Belton just a year after his hiring, in May 2025.

Concerns over Mavericks' director Johann Bilsborough

While Bilsborough was well-credentialed, he was widely viewed as more of an academic than a hands-on practitioner. Before joining the Mavericks, he served as Director of Sports Science for the Boston Celtics, where he also reportedly experienced internal friction. That included clashes with head athletic trainer Art Horne. Bilsborough ultimately departed Boston in 2020, while Horne has since risen within the organization to Director of Organizational Growth and Team Development.

Bilsborough’s tenure in Dallas began unceremoniously, but the bombshell report from McMahon shed further light on how Mavericks players and agents viewed the director of player health and performance. The reviews were far from glowing. Bilsborough reportedly did not travel regularly with the team, struggled to build rapport with players, and was known for pushing them to return from injury too quickly.

The critical reviews gained further traction when NFL linebacker Kyle Van Noy weighed in on social media, posting on X that “the Mavericks got rid of a bigggg problem!” in response to Bilsborough’s dismissal.

Van Noy, who played for the New England Patriots during Bilsborough’s time with the organization, stopped short of offering specifics but added, “The truth will always come to light," a comment that only added to questions surrounding Bilsborough’s effectiveness in the role.

Mavericks injury crisis prompted changes

While it’s difficult for outsiders to fully assess the effectiveness of a team’s medical staff, the Mavericks’ injury issues have been relentless since Smith’s departure.

Doncic's left calf strain on Christmas Day 2024 proved to be a defining moment in a season that ultimately reshaped the Mavericks’ trajectory.

Dereck Lively II’s 2025 ankle injury (initially diagnosed as a sprain before a CT scan revealed a stress fracture) added to the growing list of setbacks, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. The handling of that situation was reportedly a point of internal tension within the organization. The injuries continued to mount from there, with Anthony Davis suffering an adductor strain, followed by Kyrie Irving tearing his ACL in March.

The 2025–26 season was an improvement, though only marginally. Lively II was ruled out after just seven games due to recurring discomfort in his foot, the same leg that previously sustained a stress fracture. Davis continued to battle injuries before being traded, while key rotation pieces Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington were limited to 55 and 56 games, respectively.

Consequently, Dallas opted to move in a different direction. Bilsborough’s rocky tenure, combined with the team’s ongoing injury issues, made the decision a logical one. The Mavericks appear intent on resetting the organization and rightly moving forward with a clean slate.

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