Why Nico Harrison continues to get support from Draymond Green

The The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to part ways with general manager Nick Harrison after a poor 3-8 start to the 2025-26 NBA season, it has sparked strong reactions across the league. He is among the loudest supporters of the now ex-executive government Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Greenwho defended Harrison’s tenure and indicated injuries and accidents as the primary causes of the collapse of Dallas.

Green addressed the firing on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, where he criticized the Mavericks front office for what he felt was a rash decision.

“The team he put together to win the championship wasn’t on the field,” Green said. “No one thought Kyrie Irving was going to tear his ACL. AD started with the eye. He’s had an injury lately. The team hasn’t really been there. And so I think it’s crazy that everybody’s going to act like Kyrie Irving is this replaceable guy. That he’s there doesn’t matter.”

He went on to address what he called the misplaced blame directed at Harrison.

“To try to pounce on Nick and make, oh man, they’re off to a bad start in 10 games,” Green said. “Number one, coaching has something to do with it — J. Kidd isn’t doing great — but you all just want to point the finger at Nick because that was the story. Let’s make it a story again.”

Harrison was fired less than a year after the Mavericks reached the 2024 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. That streak came shortly after he sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick — a move that remains one of the most talked-about transactions in recent league history.

Draymond Green defends Nick Harrison after the Mavericks took a shot amid the team’s early season collapse

While the Lakers flourished under Doncic and Austin Reaves, going 8-3 and fourth in the Western Conference, the Mavericks struggled to maintain consistency with Davis leading the roster. Injuries to both Davis and Kyrie Irving have hampered Dallas’ early season progress, leaving them 14th in the West and looking for stability amid changes at the helm.

The the organization has already begun researching replacements for Harrison. According to Mark Stein of The Stein Line, “There has already been pressure among some influential voices in the organization to try to bring former Harrison adviser Dennis Lindsay back from Detroit, but Dallas is expected to install an interim office first after Harrison’s departure.”

ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim McMahon also reported that assistant general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi share temporary control basketball operations to permanent engagement.

The Mavericks will look to regroup as they continue their four-game homestand after a close 116-114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Dallas will face the Phoenix Suns (6-5) on Wednesday at 8:30 PM ET as they try to salvage their season amid front office turmoil.

Meanwhile, Green and the Warriors (6-5) are scheduled to begin a six-game road trip against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (10-1) on Tuesday before wrapping up the stretch on Nov. 19 against the Miami Heat (7-4).