Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Nico Harrison draws criticism for weak move

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 2:16 PM ET

Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison drew a new wave of criticism Tuesday for a weak move he made with the media.

Harrison held his first media availability with local Dallas reporters on Tuesday since the Luka Doncic trade in early February. However, the Mavericks hand-picked the reporters allowed to meet with Harrison, and barred those reporters from using cameras or recording devices during the media availability.

Mavericks execs Nico Harrison and Rick Welts are holding a roundtable this AM with selected Dallas media members.

Cameras/audio recording devices were not permitted for Harrison's first session with local reporters since the Luka Dončić trade.

More NBA: https://t.co/IIIlAloJCf pic.twitter.com/mHeVLMn8BQ
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 15, 2025

The evasive move was widely criticized by Dallas media and fans, as it gave the appearance that Harrison is trying to dodge pointed questions about the Doncic trade and its aftermath.

I was not among the reporters invited to speak with Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts this morning.

A front office that is confident in its moves doesn't need to speak only to selected media without recording devices.

This has been an utterly bizarre season.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) April 15, 2025

The Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers 73 days ago.

Nico Harrison spoke to the media in Cleveland 72 days ago, the morning after the trade was reported, and hadn't been heard from since.

Dallas then decided for him to wait until today, the day before…
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) April 15, 2025

I don’t agree with the Mavs banning cameras and recording devices.

Especially from a tv perspective, it’s a disservice to our viewers.

Having Nico Harrison quoted in print is much different than seeing his expressions, body language when he talked with us for about an hour.
— Sam Gannon (@SamGannon87) April 15, 2025

Harrison has become tremendously unpopular in Dallas for trading Doncic, and it has become commonplace for fans there to chant for his firing virtually everywhere. Harrison and the Mavericks are undoubtedly aware of that, and seem desperate to avoid fanning the flames. Moves like this, however, indicate that they are too desperate, and their lack of transparency becomes a story in itself.

The only way the Mavericks can mend fences at this point is to win championships. The front office certainly knows that. Still, they would do well to avoid unforced errors like this one that just open them up to more criticism. This just makes it look like Harrison is hiding from his critics, and that is a pretty bad look.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: