There’s a reason the Dallas Mavericks general manager hasn’t spoke to media in two months
The Dallas Mavericks held a closed-door, invite-only press conference roundtable on Tuesday morning, the day before the team plays an NBA Play-In game against the Sacramento Kings. Fresh off the Dallas area getting some form of basketball hope in the form of Paige Bueckers joining the Dallas Wings, the Mavericks once again recentered the basketball hearts and minds on the abysmal trade of Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis.
Since the Dallas Mavericks have yet to release a transcript of the conversation, we have plenty of sources to look to for what he had to say. Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News had a write-up. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon was there and pressed Harrison hard on his logic on the trade. Tim Cato was in the room and went live almost immediately following the presser on DLLS. There were around 15 people in the room, so there’s plenty of reporting on the topic.
It was nearly an hour full of bad quotes, attempts at obfuscation, and justifications that do not match with any of the results we’ve witnessed on the basketball court since the trade or the looming disaster on the horizon for the Mavericks in the coming seasons between salary and lack of draft picks.
But one segment really stood out, at least to me. When asked about Dirk Nowitzki’s disapproval of the firing of long time employees like Casey Smith and other changes in the organization, Harrison had this to say:
“My obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks, it’s what’s the best interest of the Dallas Mavericks, and that’s the most important thing. Some of those decisions are going to be unpopular maybe to Dirk and maybe to the fans, but my obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks.”
Nico Harrison’s only obligation is to his own ego. In the 75-plus days since the debacle began, the only time Dirk Nowitzki’s name is mentioned is to marginalize him. Dirk Nowitzki, the man who defined the Dallas Mavericks for over two decades, the man who has a statue out front of the very arena Harrison walks into to watch Mavericks games from. Dirk Nowitzki is synonymous with the Dallas Mavericks.
There’s so much subtext to this one statement, it’s hard to know where to begin. To Nico Harrison, Dirk Nowitzki doesn’t matter. To Nico Harrison, the Dallas Mavericks fans do not matter. To Nico Harrison, the only thing that matters is that Nico Harrison was right, come hell or high water.
According to MacMahon, this roundtable occurred at the behest of Governor Patrick Dumont, who wanted it to happen sometime earlier in the month. Perhaps after the most recent calamity, Dumont may see just how unprepared Harrison is to lead. It’s one thing to have a conviction, but this is a man seemingly dedicated to being the center of attention, despite hiding from the spotlight.
The problem is no one cares about management when it comes to fandom, nor should we. Basketball is about the players and the moments on the floor, and given that Harrison used to play professionally overseas, you’d think he would know that. Instead, every quote and every action speaks of a man who thinks he’s the hero in Dallas, that he alone, through a brilliant design, will lead Dallas to a NBA Championship.
Nico Harrison, you are not the Dallas Mavericks and you never will be. You are a shoe salesman to the stars, and your name and legacy will be synonymous with Icarus. You flew too close to the sun, but on the wings of others versus those of your own. You think it’s about you, and it never was and never will be.
I just want to be done with these people. I want to root for my laundry and get mad about the trivialities of sport. I am so tired of being lectured by a man who seems beholden to no one. His actions and words speak of a man who cares only about himself. It’s past time to fire Nico Harrison.