Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison has made headlines again, and not for the best reasons. Speaking to journalists in a closed-door session—with no recording devices allowed—Harrison made a series of bold statements that have further fueled the frustration of Mavs fans.
When asked about the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the LA Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Harrison said plainly: “I have no regrets.” He went on to justify the decision by adding, “Defense wins championships.”
But the irony isn’t lost on fans.
Not only did Dončić return last week to drop a whopping 45 points on the Mavericks, effectively shredding that “defense,” but Harrison was reportedly spotted hiding near the tunnel during Luka’s return game—a moment fans viewed as symbolic of his lack of accountability.
To make matters worse, Harrison’s attempt to frame his decisions as being in the organization’s best interest didn’t land well either. In a comment that’s raising eyebrows across Dallas, Harrison said:
“Some of those decisions are going to be unpopular—maybe to [Dirk Nowitzki] and maybe to the fans—but my obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks.”
Considering Nowitzki’s legendary status, with a statue outside the arena and a legacy deeply tied to the franchise’s only NBA Championship, invoking Dirk’s name so casually was seen as disrespectful, if not outright tone-deaf.
When asked about the growing chorus of fans chanting “Fire Nico Harrison,” he doubled down:
“My obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks. What’s in the best interest of the Dallas Mavericks. That’s the most important thing.”
Yet, with the team falling from Western Conference champions last season—thanks largely to Luka’s heroic playoff performances—to barely scraping into the play-in this year, many are wondering: what exactly does Harrison think is in the best interest of the franchise?
With ticket sales reportedly down and fans cancelling memberships, his claim of putting the organization first rings hollow. Unless the plan is to run the franchise into the ground, trading the player who carried them to the Finals doesn’t look like a strategic move—it looks like a massive misstep.
