With the Dallas Mavericks’ season spiraling downward after general manager Nico Harrison traded away 26-year-old star Luka Doncic, fan backlash has reached new heights. The frustration has only intensified over the past 24 hours.
Recently, the Mavericks announced an 8% increase in ticket prices despite the team sitting at the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, a decision that angered many fans. Then, on Monday, veteran guard Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee. At 32 years old, Irving had been averaging nearly 39 minutes per game—the highest since Doncic’s departure.
While Harrison had no control over Irving’s injury, he has become a focal point of criticism, particularly regarding the handling of Doncic’s trade. On Tuesday, he broke his silence on Irving’s injury, offering a heartfelt statement in support of the star guard.
“There aren’t words to fully describe who Kyrie Irving is to this team or what he means to us as an organization,” Harrison stated. “Kyrie is the heart and soul of this team, and he has embraced the city of Dallas as his home and our fans as an extension of his own family.”
He continued, **”I’ve been fortunate to have witnessed his journey, his continued evolution and growth over the years, and am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to see him approach the game of basketball with the same energy and fierce passion for the game that he did as a young man on the verge of his career.
His work ethic and absolute dedication to his craft, it’s cut from the cloth of greats. I know it, I lived it, and I see the same ferocity and passion in him that I saw in Kobe. All my thoughts and that of our staff are with Kyrie and his family, and we are confident that he will come back from this stronger than ever just like he always has.”**
Harrison, who took over as Mavericks GM in June 2021, played a key role in the team’s resurgence, leading to an NBA Finals appearance last year. However, his recent decisions have drawn intense scrutiny from Mavericks and NBA fans alike.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have been thriving, winning six consecutive games and 18 of their last 22, securing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. In contrast, the Mavericks are struggling to stay in play-in contention amid injuries that have derailed their season.
