Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

“Blame Game Misplaced” – Draymond Green Defends Nico Harrison, Points Finger at Jason Kidd’s Leadership Instead

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks parted ways with general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday morning, a move widely anticipated following the controversial trade of Luka Doncic in February. The decision came just 11 games into the 2025-26 season, with the team struggling to a 3-8 record and continuing its decline after last year’s collapse from NBA Finals contender to lottery team.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green quickly voiced his disapproval of the firing, arguing that Nico Harrison was not given enough time to see his roster vision play out.

On his podcast, Green criticized the narrative surrounding Harrison’s dismissal. “Y’all just wanna go point the finger at Nico because that was a storyline. Now let’s make that a storyline again. That s–t is whack to me,” Green said. He added that the team Harrison built had not yet been fully available due to injuries.

Draymond Green pointed to Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL and Anthony Davis’ recurring health issues as factors that derailed the Mavericks’ early season. “Nobody assumed Kyrie Irving would tear his ACL. [Anthony Davis] started out with the eye, he’s had the injury as of late. The team hasn’t really been out there,” Green explained. He also compared Irving’s absence to the Indiana Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton, noting how dramatically a team can change without its lead playmaker.

🏀 Before everyone rewrites the story, remember: the Mavericks never got to see the team Nico Harrison constructed at full strength…

🎙️ Hear the full conversation on The Draymond Green Show – available wherever you get your podcasts & YouTube pic.twitter.com/D1VdVp45YO
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) November 11, 2025

Critics Say Nico Harrison’s Roster Was Flawed From the Start

Despite Green’s defense, critics argue Nico Harrison’s roster construction was flawed from the start. Even with Kyrie Irving healthy, the Mavericks lack the shooting and playmaking depth required to compete in today’s NBA. Irving remains a top-tier talent, but he cannot single-handedly elevate what has become the league’s worst offense.

The criticism is amplified by the fact that Dallas was in the NBA Finals just nine months before the trade. With Luka Doncic, the Mavericks had a legitimate championship contender built around one of the league’s greatest superstars.

By moving him for older, injury-prone stars such as Irving and Davis, Nico Harrison gambled on players with long histories of missed games. Both have managed only one season in the past seven years with at least 65 appearances, making their durability a constant concern.

As a result, the Mavericks now face an uphill battle. Even if Kyrie Irving returns in December as head coach Jason Kidd suggested, and Anthony Davis regains health, the team may only be fighting for a Play-In spot.