On Tuesday, Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont announced that the franchise had officially relieved Nico Harrison of his duties as general manager and president of basketball operations following a meeting with the team.
After the news surfaced, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green came to Harrison's defense on his podcast, pointing out that the group he assembled “hasn't been on the court” together and warning against making him the scapegoat.
“I find it crazy that everybody’s just going to act like Kyrie Irving is this easily replaceable guy. Do you see the Indiana Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton? They look like a completely different team,” Green said. “Yes, they got the number one pick. Guess what teams that get the number one pick usually look like the next year? Trash.”
“And I know what everybody’s going to say. Oh, man, the injury history. Well, AD, for the better part of the last two years, has been extremely healthy before getting to Dallas. Kyrie Irving, since being in Dallas, has been pretty healthy. So miss me with the injury history stuff… I don’t buy that.”
“Y’all just want to go point the finger at Nico because that was a storyline… That [expletive] is whack to me… Next year, they come back, that full team that Nico intended to be out there, and they have success. Then what?”
The decision to fire Harrison was driven by a poor 3-8 start, sustained fan unrest, and mounting criticism over the blockbuster trade in February that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
The trade drew criticism from the start, and the scrutiny has only intensified as Doncic stars with the Lakers, averaging 37.1 points per game, while Davis has missed significant time in Dallas with calf and lower-body injuries.
Dallas dropped to 3-8 after a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday that saw rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg produce a career-high 26 points in a performance that has been one of the few bright spots of the season.
However, the same game included loud ‘Fire Nico!’ chants from fans inside American Airlines Center, highlighting the mounting tension between the Mavs' fan base and team leadership.
The front office may have heard fans' pleas, but without a steady, sustainable plan for the future, it risks losing their trust entirely.
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.