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HomeDallas Mavericks‘It Was Surprising To All Of Us’: Anthony Davis Reacts To Nico Harrison’s Firing And Discusses Path Forward
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‘It Was Surprising To All Of Us’: Anthony Davis Reacts To Nico Harrison’s Firing And Discusses Path Forward

Grant AfsethGrant Afsethno comment
Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks, NBA
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Anthony Davis didn’t sugarcoat his reaction when asked about the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to fire general manager Nico Harrison. For Davis — who was recruited to Dallas in large part because of Harrison’s vision — the move came without warning.

“It was surprising to all of us,” Davis said after Wednesday’s practice. “At least as players, we didn’t know it was happening. Nico’s my guy — he played a huge part in bringing me here and believing in me to fulfill his vision. It was definitely tough.”

Harrison’s dismissal last week marked the latest shift in a turbulent stretch for the Mavericks, who entered Wednesday with multiple rotation players injured and still searching for stability. For Davis, the front-office shakeup hit on a personal level, but he emphasized that it didn’t derail his approach.

Anthony Davis Spoke With Dallas Mavericks Leadership

Davis said he reached out quickly once the news broke, wanting clarity as he continued rehabbing his left calf strain.

“Me and Nico talked. Me and Patrick talked,” Davis said. “That’s just the business of basketball. Once I had those conversations, I was able to move forward, focus on my rehab, and get back to trying to compete and win games — and ultimately win a championship.”

While the move stunned players, Davis’ comments made clear that the lines of communication with ownership remain open. He said the conversations helped him shift back into preparation mode as he nears his return to the court.

A Player Brought In Under One Vision, Adjusting to Another

Harrison was instrumental in engineering the blockbuster trade that brought Davis to Dallas — a defining piece of a broader initiative to restructure the roster around star talent and defensive versatility. Davis acknowledged that losing the executive who believed in him from the start added an emotional layer to the transition.

“Nico’s my guy,” he said. “He played a huge part in bringing me here.”

But even with those ties, Davis said he understands how quickly the landscape can shift in today’s NBA.

“That’s just the business of basketball,” Davis said. “Once I had those conversations, I was able to move forward.”

Anthony Davis is Moving Forward With a Clear Goal

Davis is expected to return this weekend after missing 14 straight games, and he reiterated that his focus now is entirely on playing — not front-office changes.

“Right now, it’s about getting back on the floor, winning games, and trying to turn this thing around,” Davis said.

For the Mavericks, who have battled injuries and narrow losses throughout the early season, Davis’ return could be the stabilizer they need. And even as the organization resets its front-office direction, Davis made it clear he’s committed to leading on the court — with his expectations unchanged.

“That’s the long-term goal,” he said. “Trying to compete and win games — and ultimately win a championship.”

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Tags :Anthony DavisDallas MavericksNBANBA Front OfficeNBA NewsNico HarrisonPatrick Dumont

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Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth

Senior Writer
Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.
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