The 2025 NBA Playoffs are in full swing. Every day feels like something new drops: a buzzer-beater here, a heartbreaking injury there. But if there’s one team living in pure chaos before and during these playoffs, it’s gotta be Nico Harrison’s Mavericks. Injuries hit them like a wrecking ball this year, leaving the roster looking like a last-minute pickup squad at the rec center. And just then, the front office pulled the trigger on a Luka Doncic trade. Mavericks fans were in shambles after this. Then, Nico Harrison opened his mouth again, and it stirred the pot again. Right on cue, DeMarcus Cousins jumped into the conversation with a wild theory that left fans both laughing and side-eyeing their screens.
Mavericks GM Nico Harrison just keeps making things worse when he talks about the Luka Doncic trade. In his latest interview, he actually said, “I did know Luka was important to the fan base. I didn’t know quite to this level.” Seriously? How did you not know how crucial he was? Luka was the face of Dallas. This comment prompted legendary eye-roller Stephen A. Smith to launch into a full rant on ESPN’s First Take. “You underestimated, you didn’t know how much, to what degree fans loved Luka Dončić? You underestimated that? Where the h— you live at?” he said.
After hearing Nico’s take, Cousins couldn’t help but laugh. “I need Nico’s plug because he is on another planet,” he joked. But then, he dropped some respect on Nico, not for the reasons you’d expect. “I respect the fact that you’re going out of your way,” DeMarcus said, clearly amused.
After all, it is not just the basketball community that was upset. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones went full Hallmark Movie when he revealed that his wife, Gene Jones, cried when she heard about the Luka trade. “Now, Gene was All-State, scored 17 straight free throws in a state championship game, and Gene lives and dies with that basketball. And just cried when Luka left,” Jones said.
However, Jerry Jones also understands why a team might take such a drastic decision. ‘Sort of’ defending Harrison, he added, “I understand that and I understand, frankly, you say how could that happen, I’ve got a little bit better understanding how something like that can happen.” While he didn’t mention what could have been the reasons, DeMarcus Cousins might’ve cracked the code on why this trade happened.
Nico Harrison can rest easy knowing he earned Boogie Cousins’ respect, even if cost him his job in the process pic.twitter.com/fIUD2Kygu5
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 22, 2025
In one of his classic behind-the-scenes exposés, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon revealed that Harrison wasn’t just clashing with the scoreboard—he was apparently at odds with his own medical team, too. According to the report, Harrison gave longtime director of health and performance Casey Smith the boot via video call—while Smith was visiting his sick mother, no less. The newly hired health staff never really clicked with Luka Dončić or his inner circle, and that awkward chemistry may have been one of the many red flags waving behind the scenes.
Well, we don’t know anything solid as of now. All we have are conspiracies, and Cousins’ words are sure to add more to them. As far as the front office goes, it has been reported that Harrison slowly dismantled anyone who disagreed with him in the front office and got in the good graces of the Dumont family—the Mavericks’ new owners—convincing them he was the smartest guy in any room he entered. And somehow, it worked. Until it didn’t.
Cut to how even Patrick Dumont is frustrated now. According to him, Harrison did not give him any warnings about how the fanbase would take this decision. So, yeah, that smart-guy energy? Gone now for Harrison. And all that remains is just chaos.
Charles Barkley takes aim at Nico Harrison’s wobbly defense of Luka’s fanbase
Charles Barkley wasn’t about to let Nico Harrison slide with that shaky explanation about Luka’s fan base. After Nico tried and failed to defend trading away one of the league’s biggest stars, Barkley stepped in like only he can.
“Listen, man, I consider you a friend… I wish you nothing but the best,” Chuck started, before flipping the switch. “But don’t do no more press conferences. I got love for you, but I have zero idea what you’re trying to do. This war is over, brother. You’ve taken the L.”
And honestly? He’s not wrong. The Mavericks just wrapped up their season with a rough 120-106 loss to the Grizzlies in the Play-In. Meanwhile, Luka’s out in L.A., leading the Lakers to a No. 3 seed and giving Minnesota all kinds of problems in the first round.
It’s one of those “what were you thinking?” moments for Dallas. And Barkley just said what everybody else was probably thinking.
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