The Big Lead

Stephen A. Smith tells Mavs GM Nico Harrison to ‘shut up and go home’

Stephen A. Smith has hit out at Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison after his latest comments about the Luka Doncic trade.

By Divij Kulkarni

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
facebooktwitter

The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up to fight for their season on Wednesday night as they take on the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament. But the noise is again largely around their General Manager Nico Harrison, and not the team itself.

Harrison recently called a closed-door press conference with select media members, in which he stated that he had no regrets about trading Luka Doncic, among other things. Mavs fans are already seething, but this particular take seems to have also riled up Stephen A. Smith, who tore into Harrison on ESPN's First Take.

RELATED: Nico Harrison Under Fire for Secretive Response to Luka Doncic Trade Fallout

"It might behoove you not to talk at all," Smith said. "Just let the whole damn season end. Because there's nothing that you can do to explain it ... You don't have a press conference right now and talk about it, you just don't. You shut up and you go home. That's what you do. Do your exit interviews when the season's over."

Luka Doncic's return to American Airlines Center went terribly for Harrison, as the superstar dropped 45 points amid thunderous chants asking for the GM to be fired. Despite that, and the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers look poised to make a deep playoff run, Harrison continues to suggest that he did what he believed to be the right thing.

Stephen A. Smith's take on the matter seems to be largely about the PR issues about all this. The Mavericks have all but alienated a majority of their fan base, and perhaps Smith's advice might be good for Nico Harrison after all.

MORE TOP STORIES from The Big Lead
VIRAL: Leaked Jordon Hudson emails reveal confusing role on Bill Belichick's UNC staff
CFB: Nico Iamaleava's NIL chase could reportedly backfire with massive loss
MLB: Toronto Blue Jays serving absolute abomination 'Cotton Candy Fries' at home games
NFL: Free agent running back shares staggering workout video with strong message
WNBA: Hailey Van Lith foreshadowed WNBA Draft future with meaningful tattoo
SPORTS MEDIA: Atlanta Braves reporter secured woman's phone number while on live TV

Home/NBA