Nico Harrison didn’t help his case when asked about Luka Dončić and whether the former Dallas Mavericks star is a “championship-level” player. With the 2024-25 NBA season officially over for Dallas, Harrison addressed the media in an end-of-season press conference and shared his thoughts.
Some fans believe Harrison may be the most disliked general manager in league history, having initiated the trade that sent Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. While he still has time to prove it wasn’t a mistake, this season was a clear step back for the team.
Harrison admitted the season didn’t go as planned. Still, he stood by his perspective and kept a positive tone about the organization. But things got awkward when Dončić’s name came up.
Is Luka Dončić Truly a Championship-Level Player?
When asked about the trade, which sent Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around big man Anthony Davis, Harrison again emphasized that “defense wins championships,” a not-so-subtle shot at Dončić.
Though Dončić is a prolific offensive player, averaging an insane 33.9 points and 9.8 assists per game in 2023-2024, his final full season in Dallas.
Even though Dončić improved each season and had just led Dallas to the NBA Finals, Harrison didn’t believe the superstar could take the Mavericks all the way.
In his latest interview, Harrison declined to directly answer whether Dončić is a championship-level player. Considering how angry the fanbase is and how loudly they’re calling for his removal, staying quiet might’ve been the safest choice.
Nico Harrison refused to answer if he believes Luka Doncic is a "championship player" since he is no longer on the team, but rather briefly talked about Dallas potentially being a championship team.
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) April 21, 2025
Harrison’s stance on Dončić remains a point of controversy. Dončić ranks second only to Michael Jordan in playoff career points per game — Jordan averaged 33.4, while Dončić sits just behind at 31.4.
Some argue Dončić’s blend of scoring and playmaking puts him ahead of even Jordan and LeBron James in certain aspects. His creativity, jump shot, basketball IQ, and court vision stack up with the best in NBA history.
More importantly, Dončić had taken the Mavericks deeper into the playoffs each season, finally leading them to the Finals. Rather than wait to see if that run was legit, Harrison made the bold decision to move on — and now he’s dealing with the consequences.
The Mavericks lost their play-in game to the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that had struggled to finish the season. While Memphis made the playoffs, few expect them to get past the Oklahoma City Thunder. That result alone highlights where Dallas stands in the bigger playoff picture.