Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison recently held a closed-door roundtable with reporters, a session that was reportedly ordered by the team’s owner, Patrick Dumont. NBA insider Shams Charania revealed on NBA Countdown that the meeting wasn’t Harrison’s idea but was enforced by Dumont.
The meeting took place just over two months after the Mavericks’ controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Harrison, despite widespread fan disapproval, “quadrupled down” on his decision, continuing to emphasize his defense-first philosophy as the franchise’s cornerstone, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Harrison repeatedly stated that “defense wins championships,” framing the trade of Doncic as part of a broader, multi-year vision for building a title contender. However, MacMahon noted that Harrison faced pushback during the session but remained firm, reiterating his commitment to a defense-first approach.
The February trade saw Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris traded to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Since the trade, Doncic has thrived in Los Angeles, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game while helping the Lakers secure a top-three seed in the Western Conference.
Despite Harrison’s insistence on the defense-first model, the Mavericks ended the regular season with a 39–43 record, finishing 10th in the Western Conference. After eliminating the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, Dallas will face the Memphis Grizzlies in a do-or-die game for the No. 8 seed.
MacMahon pointed out the inconsistency in Harrison’s justification, noting that the Mavericks had one of the best defenses last season. In fact, the team posted a solid defensive rating during the NBA Finals against Boston, which they lost for reasons unrelated to defense.
Harrison also set a three-to-four-year window for building a championship contender, but with the Mavericks’ draft capital in question due to trades involving first-round picks, fans remain skeptical of the plan’s viability. MacMahon revealed that Harrison intends to stay as GM for the remainder of his contract, which runs for three more years, but hinted at uncertainty about his level of control within the organization.
MacMahon also revealed that Dumont had pushed for this media session weeks earlier, before Doncic’s return, which raises questions about possible internal power shifts within the Mavericks’ front office.
