Dallas Basketball

NBA legend Charles Barkley calls out Mavericks GM Nico Harrison

It might be time for Nico Harrison to stop talking.
Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

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The Dallas Mavericks have been under a lot of media pressure since trading away Luka Doncic. It doesn't help that any time general manager Nico Harrison opens his mouth, he makes the situation worse.

Harrison's latest mistakes came during his end-of-season exit interview on Monday afternoon in Dallas. In this interview, he admitted he wasn't aware of just how important Luka Doncic was to the city, said the disastrous trade actually strengthened his relationship with Governor Patrick Dumont, and said he got all he wanted out of the trade, among many other things.

READ MORE: Mavs’ Nico Harrison responds to criticism of trading for Anthony Davis

Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison
Mar 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison (left) speaks with Phoenix Suns assistant coach David Fizdale (right) before the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Following that debacle and ahead of Monday night's NBA playoff games, NBA legend Charles Barkley sent a strong message to Nico Harrison: stop talking.

"Listen, man, I consider you a friend of mine. Nico Harrison, I consider you a friend of mine, I wish you nothing but the best, I thought you did a good job last year with the Mavs, and, obviously, whatever happened this year didn't work out. Man, don't do any more press conferences. Like, I don't even know what you're doing. I really don't. Like, I got sympathy and love for you, but I have zero idea what you're trying to do. This war is over, brother. You've taken the L. I hope you keep your job, I hope the team gets healthy, but man, don't do any more interviews. Please don't."

What Nico Harrison really needs to do is resign, because the situation will not start to get better until he is no longer in control of the team. Everybody knows he's a coward and made a mistake, and the heat around the organization will not cool off until he's no longer with the franchise.

Dallas' season ended on Friday night with a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies as the team bowed out in the Play-In Tournament without reaching the playoffs. Considering he traded Luka Doncic to "win now," it's not the best of times in Dallas.

READ MORE: Nico Harrison's treatment of former Mavericks employee should be the last straw

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Austin Veazey
AUSTIN VEAZEY

Austin Veazey joined NoleGameday as the Lead Basketball Writer in 2019, while contributing as a football writer, and started as editor for MavericksGameday in 2024. Veazey was a Florida State Men’s Basketball Manager from 2016-2019. Follow Austin on Twitter at @EasyVeazeyNG

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