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Nico Harrison

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Nico Harrison
Dallas Mavericks
PositionPresident of Basketball Operations /
General Manager
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1972-12-28) December 28, 1972 (age 52)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Career information
High schoolTigard (Tigard, Oregon)
College
NBA draft1996: undrafted
Playing career1996–2001
PositionForward
Career history
1996-1997Leuven Bears
1997–1998Black Hills Posse
1998-2000Hitachi Honsha Rising Sun
Career highlights and awards
As player:

Nico Tyrone Harrison (born December 28, 1972) is an American professional basketball executive and former player who is the president of basketball operations and general manager of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association.

After playing college basketball at West Point and Montana State, Harrison played professional basketball in Belgium, Japan, the Continental Basketball Association, and Lebanon for 5 years.

In 2002, Harrison began a 19-year career at Nike, Inc., rising to Nike's Vice President of North American basketball operations. In 2021, Harrison was appointed as the general manager and president of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks, succeeding Donnie Nelson.

Early life

Harrison was born on December 28, 1972 in Seattle, Washington. He is the son of Steve and Christie Harrison (née Martinez), and was the fourth of their five children. Harrison's parents divorced when he was five years old, which led him to split time between Spokane, Washington and Tigard, Oregon while growing up.[1] As a child, Harrison played both American football and basketball, before shifting his focus solely to basketball in ninth grade. Harrison eventually decided to attend Tigard High School, after determining it would be best for his ability to earn a basketball scholarship to attend college.[1]

College career

Over the final two years of his high school career, Harrison suffered a broken ankle and torn thumb cartilage, which prevented him from being able to play for a Pac-10 school, instead opting to enroll at West Point. In his freshman year of college in 1991, Harrison averaged 9.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game for the Black Knights. He was selected to the Patriot League All-Freshman team in 1992.[2]

Following his first year at West Point, Harrison decided to transfer to Montana State University.[3] Due to NCAA transfer rules, Harrison was required to sit out of the 1992-93 NCAA season.[3] In three seasons with the Bobcats between 1993 and 1996, Harrison scored over 1000 points, averaging 12 points per game, 2.4 assists per game, and 4.2 rebounds per game.[2] In his senior year in 1996, Harrison helped lead the Bobcats to the NCAA tournament.[4] Harrison was selected to the first team All-Big Sky Conference in each of his three years with the Bobcats.[3] Harrison graduated with a degree in biological and medical sciences and was recognized for his academic successes, being named a two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar-Athlete award winner while at Montana State.[5][3]

In 2015, Harrison was inducted into the Montana State Bobcats Hall of Fame.[3]

Professional basketball career

Harrison started his professional career playing for the Leuven Bears for the 1996-97 season. Harrison played for the Black Hills Posse of the International Basketball Association (IBA) during the 1997–98 season where he averaged 8.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.[6] He played for the Hitachi Honsha Rising Sun from 1998 until 2000.[7]

Nike

Following the end of his playing career, Harrison moved back to Oregon, where he took up a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative. In 2002, a friend informed him of an open position at Nike as a regional field representative for the NBA.[1] Harrison applied and was hired, moving to Dallas, Texas, where the job was based. As part of the role, Harrison represented players such as Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, and Jermaine O'Neal.[8] In 2003, Harrison was promoted to a national marketing role with Nike, where he worked with prominent basketball stars like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.[9] Harrison was eventually promoted to the role of Vice President of North American basketball operations, where he worked until 2021.[8] Over his 19 years at Nike, Harrison became known for his trustworthiness and ability to develop personal connections, making him a popular figure with NBA players.[10]

During his work at Nike, he botched a 2013 presentation to Stephen Curry, where according to Harrison he may have called him Seth, and the presentation used was made for Kevin Durant. This, along with not offering Curry a signature shoe, caused the superstar to switch from Nike and sign with Under Armour.[10]

Dallas Mavericks

On June 28, 2021, Harrison was appointed as the general manager and president of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks, succeeding Donnie Nelson. This appointment coincided with the hiring of Jason Kidd as the head coach.[11][12]

During Harrison's first three seasons as GM, the Mavericks reached the NBA Western Conference Finals two times and the NBA Finals in 2024. In June 2024 after reaching the NBA Finals, the Mavericks gave Harrison a multi-year contract extension.[13]

Harrison engineered the surprise February 2025 trade of Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, considered the "most shocking" trade in Mavericks history and perhaps in NBA history. The trade received negative reaction from Mavericks fans and the media, especially given that the Mavericks had just made the NBA Finals the previous season under a team built around Dončić.[14][15][16][17] Harrison defended the trade, stating "defense wins championships" and adding that Anthony Davis exemplifies the culture the Mavericks' front office is trying to create.[18]

Personal life

Harrison has four siblings, three older and one younger: Joe, Elizabeth, Shivaun, and Brandon. Harrison is married to Darlise Harrison, a producer for ABC News and BET. They have two daughters, Noelle and Nia.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Townsend, Brad (September 27, 2021). "No more mystery: Inside Nico Harrison's circuitous journey to becoming Mavericks GM". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Nico Harrison College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Hall of Fame - Montana State University Athletics". Montana State University. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  4. ^ "A Quarter-Century Later, Danny Sprinkle is Again Poised to Lead Montana State into a Big Sky Championship Game". Montana State University Bobcats. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  5. ^ @thesteinline (June 28, 2021). "Register" (Tweet). Retrieved September 28, 2021 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "Nico Harrison minor league basketball statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  7. ^ "Kentaro Hori assistant GM visits Dallas office and met General Manager Nico Harrison". Twitter. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Spears, Marc (January 5, 2022). "Nico Harrison on the Mavs' general manager job, life at Nike, Kobe Bryant, Luka Doncic, and more". Andscape. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  9. ^ "Nico Harrison Introduced as Dallas Mavericks General Manager". Dallas Mavericks. June 28, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Benson, Pat (August 6, 2022). "The True Story Behind Nike's Failed Meeting with Stephen Curry". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  11. ^ "Mavericks officially hire Jason Kidd as coach, Nico Harrison as GM". NBA.com. Associated Press. June 28, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Afseth, Grant (June 28, 2021). "New Dallas Mavs GM Nico Harrison Speaks: 'Iconic Franchise' Ready for 'Next Level'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  13. ^ Molski, Max (June 4, 2024). "Mavericks extend GM Nico Harrison ahead of NBA Finals". NBC DFW. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  14. ^ Wimbish, Jasmyn (February 2, 2025). "Why Mavericks' Luka Doncic trade is malpractice, no matter how GM Nico Harrison tries to explain it". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  15. ^ McKeone, Liam (February 2, 2025). "GM Nico Harrison Had Simple Message to Mavs Fans Frustrated Over Luka Doncic Trade". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  16. ^ de Lune, Claire (February 2, 2025). "The Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade is shocking, franchise-altering and bizarre". The Guardian. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  17. ^ "Mavs' Nico Harrison provides update on stunning Luka Doncic trade". Dallas Morning News. February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  18. ^ MacMahon, Tim (February 2, 2025). "Harrison: Davis a key part to Mavericks' 'vision,' 'culture'". ESPN. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
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