Hired just nine days after Donnie Nelson's ouster, and eight days after Rick Carlisle's firing, Nico Harrison landed in Dallas on a minefield.
Not only was it a royal mess in the organization chart, but it was also panic internally with several hot issues to manage, including accusations of sexism and more than inappropriate behavior, plus a trial with the former GM , Donnie Nelson, who will be added later.
“You don't find talents like Irving every four morning, it doesn't exist! »
Extended for several seasons two days ago, while the Mavs brilliantly emerged from the formidable Western Conference to reach the NBA finals for the first time since 2011, Harrison has achieved quite a feat since his arrival in the Texas less than three years ago.
“This season is obviously rewarding,” Harrison recently explained in The Athletic. “But I’m even happier for the guys, for the team. I'm happy for Dallas, for J-Kidd rather than being satisfied alone on my perch. Anyway, I'm not made like that, I don't celebrate victories, I always think about tomorrow. I'm thinking about next season. In the next three seasons. I don't enjoy success, which is one of my many weaknesses. Let's say that I benefit from it through the team. »
And it all starts from his special relationship with Kyrie Irving, whom he has known since the latter was 16 years old!
Then a dynamic young executive retraining at Nike after playing in college at Montana State, which allowed him to have a short career of six seasons which took him to Belgium, Japan and Lebanon, Harrison saw the talent of the young leader, whom he will soon bring into his stable of sponsored stars, including Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley (his right-hand man with the Mavs) and Jason Kidd.
“You don't find talents like Irving every four morning, it doesn't exist! We were lucky he was available. We were never influenced by rumors because I had a personal relationship with him. J-Kidd too. And we know what culture we want to establish here. »
“We have always had confidence in our project”
Returning to Nike, in Portland where he had spent his high school years in particular (at Tigard) to ensure his retraining, where he remained for 19 years, Harrison climbed all the ranks until becoming vice-president of the brand's basketball department. at the swoosh!
Seduced by his career and his incredible network of knowledge in the League, but well beyond (in the NCAA and in Europe in particular), Mark Cuban did not take long to decide, while the walls of the Texan franchise were were seriously cracking.
“I knew Nike like the back of my hand. But we discussed [avec Mark Cuban] during one hour. He explained his entire process to me, which would last several weeks. And the next day, he changed everything and he wanted to hire me straight away! »
With carte blanche to restart the machine, Harrison had his plan in mind. It was necessary to bet everything on the Irving – Doncic duo, even if it meant considerably reshuffling the squad accordingly during the season, with PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford. Without forgetting the more than clever Draft of Derek Lively II previously. Even if it means being fined $750,000 for throwing out the end of the season.
“It’s a hell of a journey! It's a job that remains difficult because you have to manage people. I knew it from the start but we had to build from scratch, knowing that it was going to take us a few years to get back up to speed. But we always had confidence in our project, starting with what I know about Kyrie. I know his character and his talent. With a guy like Luka who tells you he's ready to win, and shows it on the field. Then all that remained was to surround them well. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Luka Doncic | 70 | 37.5 | 48.7 | 38.2 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 33.9 |
| Kyrie Irving | 58 | 35.0 | 49.7 | 41.1 | 90.5 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 25.6 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 79 | 26.8 | 40.2 | 35.3 | 85.2 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 14.4 |
| Pj Washington | 29 | 32.2 | 42.1 | 31.4 | 62.7 | 1.1 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 11.7 |
| Daniel Gafford | 29 | 21.5 | 78.0 | 0.0 | 60.7 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 11.2 |
| Derek Lively II | 55 | 23.5 | 74.7 | 0.0 | 50.6 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 6.9 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 8.8 |
| Derrick Jones | 76 | 23.5 | 48.3 | 34.3 | 71.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 8.6 |
| Josh Green | 57 | 26.4 | 47.9 | 38.5 | 68.4 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 8.2 |
| Grant Williams | 47 | 26.4 | 41.3 | 37.6 | 74.5 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 8.1 |
| Dante Exum | 55 | 19.8 | 53.3 | 49.1 | 77.9 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 7.8 |
| Jaden Hardy | 73 | 13.6 | 40.7 | 36.2 | 77.6 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 7.3 |
| Dexter Dennis | 4 | 7.5 | 52.6 | 12.5 | 33.3 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.5 |
| Alex Fudge | 2 | 12.9 | 55.6 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 5.5 |
| Maxi Kleber | 43 | 20.3 | 43.2 | 34.8 | 70.2 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 4.4 |
| Seth Curry | 36 | 12.7 | 37.2 | 36.3 | 89.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.3 |
| Richaun Holmes | 23 | 10.3 | 55.9 | 0.0 | 57.1 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 3.4 |
| Dwight Powell | 63 | 13.3 | 67.9 | 33.3 | 70.8 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 3.3 |
| Aj Lawson | 42 | 7.4 | 44.6 | 26.0 | 65.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 3.2 |
| Brandon Williams | 17 | 6.6 | 37.0 | 20.0 | 64.7 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 3.2 |
| Olivier-maxence Prosper | 40 | 8.4 | 38.5 | 28.9 | 68.3 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| Markieff Morris | 26 | 8.3 | 33.8 | 35.7 | 83.3 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Greg Brown III | 6 | 6.6 | 45.5 | 33.3 | 44.4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.5 |
