Every time Avery Johnson saw his team botch a play after a timeout, he knew.

Every time he saw a slumped shoulder after a misplay – that bad body language that he so despises – he knew.

He knew his time with the Mavericks was ending. His message no longer was getting through.

Just as his predecessor, Don Nelson, lost players before turning the reins over to Johnson in 2004, the Little General could not get players to obey commands at the end.

"When that happens, then sometimes you need a new voice," Johnson said Thursday. "During the course of some games, I wasn't getting that response. This particular team, especially in the last quarter of the season, last half of the season, just wasn't responding the way I needed it to.

"I'm not necessarily cool about this, but what am I supposed to do? My life has to continue. This is a part of coaching. Coaches, we're going to resign or get fired."

TOM FOX / DMN

Former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson shares a laugh with reporters during Thursday's news conference.

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Johnson dodged few topics as he addressed the media for the first time since he was fired Wednesday. He spent much of the time thanking just about everybody connected with the Mavericks, specifically owner Mark Cuban for taking a chance on a young, unproven coach four years ago.

"We had a lot of fun," Johnson said. "And contrary to some [thoughts], we had a tremendous amount of success. We can feel very proud of what we did, each and every day. Every decision that I had a chance to be a part of, I can really feel good about it.

"But now, it's time to move on. There are no hard feelings, there's no bitterness."

Johnson, 43, said he gained invaluable experience with the Mavericks. He said he will be more patient in his next job and there remains "a lot of work to be done" on the Mavericks' roster for the next coach.

Part of that work will be rehabilitating the confidence and reputation of Josh Howard, who admitted occasional off-season marijuana use and had an ill-timed birthday bash after the Game 4 playoff loss against New Orleans.

"The situation last week, I think I used the words poor judgment and poor timing," Johnson said of Howard. "That was a disappointing situation. I hope he can get himself together because I think he's a terrific player.

"I have never been in a locker room as a player with that type of situation. I can only imagine if I were. He's a talented young man. But again, this window closes on you pretty quickly as a player with the wrong move."

Among other topics Johnson visited:

• He said he was on board with the Jason Kidd trade, sort of.

"Before we made the trade, I talked to Mark and Donnie [Nelson]. I said: 'Hey, I've got to get a point guard.' That's why I wanted to develop Devin Harris. I invested a significant amount of time with him. The team was changed, and we never really got back on track.

"We're not slamming anybody's name through the mud. I think my name is on record with the organization as to what I wanted to do. It was something that was tried and it didn't take us anywhere that was close. We were struggling to make the playoffs, so it didn't nearly bring was the rewards that we wanted."

• Johnson said Dirk Nowitzki is an undeniably great player, but he needs help if the Mavericks are to get back to a championship level.

"Any great player needs help. You look at what's happening with the Lakers. Kobe [Bryant], as great as Kobe is, they've gotten in the position they're in now because [other guys] got better, and now [Pau] Gasol is there.

"In Dirk's situation, he needs some young guys or maybe another veteran player that's still in the prime of their career that can really get out there and really give him the type of support he needs."

• On his relationship with Cuban:

"I'm proud of my working relationship with Mark. We've had moments behind the scenes where we've talked about management styles, vision, and I've learned a whole heck of a lot from Mark.

"There were 29 other owners in the NBA, and nobody else gave me my first shot but him. Did we have some rough periods? Absolutely. Am I proud that we were able to get through those rough periods? Yes, I am."

• Reflecting on his run with the Mavericks:

"I had a chance to work under a phenomenal coach in Coach Nelson. But as Coach Nelson said, he felt he couldn't take it any further. And a lot of the players we brought were players at that particular time that I recommended, and he thought I should have an opportunity to take them forward.

"So again, we had a chance to change the culture. Now it's time for somebody else to take it to the next level and somebody else to work with management and players, and that's OK. It's just time for somebody else."