The Dallas Mavericks have been dealing with instability all season, and the sudden firing of general manager Nico Harrison only added to the chaos. For Anthony Davis, the move was personal. Harrison was the executive who brought him to Dallas and built the organization’s vision around him, making the news especially difficult to process.
“No one knew what was happening, so it was surprising more than anything,” Davis said, via Mike Curtis. “Nico’s my guy. He played a huge part in getting me here and wanted me to fulfill his vision that he saw.”
After Harrison’s firing, Davis quickly reached out to the former Mavs GM and team governor Patrick Dumont to understand the situation and reset his mindset. Those conversations helped him find clarity as he continues working toward a return to the court.
“Once I had those conversations I was able to move forward and continue to rehab and get back on the floor,” Davis continued. “I want to compete to win games and do what Nico brought all of us here for, and that is to ultimately win a championship. That is the long-term goal, but for now it is just getting back on the floor to try and win some games and turn this thing around.”
Nico Harrison’s legacy will never fade in Dallas, and he will always be remembered as the guy who traded Luka Doncic. The only path to his redemption rests on Davis, who has embraced the challenge of breathing life back into the Mavericks.
At 32 years old, he should have a lot of good basketball left ahead of him and plenty of time to realize Nico’s vision. With Davis pushing for a comeback against the Lakers on Friday, his return will mark the first major break for Dallas and a chance to turn the tide.
Next week, Dereck Lively II will return to action, giving the Mavericks one more crucial big man to stabilize their rotation. That is not counting Kyrie Irving, who is quickly progressing from a torn ACL. He has not yet been ruled out this season, and his recovery is described as ongoing.
But even as their core gets healthier, it remains to be seen whether this team has what it takes to compete with the likes of the Thunder, Nuggets, and Rockets.
So far, the results have been rough, as the Mavs sit 14th in the West at 5-14. It will take a massive effort to turn the season around, but Davis believes they can do something special when he gets back out on the court.
If he is right, it will be the ultimate vindication for Nico Harrison, who can claim victory with the roster he constructed. Meanwhile, Davis gets the glory of leading a team that is his own to a championship.
For Dallas, the path forward depends entirely on whether their stars can return and stay on the floor long enough to spark a turnaround. The margin for error has vanished, but the opportunity is still there if Davis can anchor the reset. His comeback represents the first real chance for stability, and the Mavericks know their season will hinge on how quickly he can lift them back into the fight.
