“Stephen A. Smith Rips Nico Harrison, Blames Him for Kyrie Irving’s Injury, and Calls for His Firing After Mavs’ Struggles—Blasts Him Over Luka-AD Trade Talk”

“Stephen A. Smith Rips Nico Harrison, Blames Him for Kyrie Irving’s Injury, and Calls for His Firing After Mavs’ Struggles—Blasts Him Over Luka-AD Trade Talk”

Stephen A. Smith has never been one to hold back, and this time, he has set his sights on Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, blaming him for Kyrie Irving’s injury woes and the team’s dwindling options. On a fiery segment of First Take, Smith didn’t mince words, calling for Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to fire Harrison, questioning his roster decisions, and blasting the mere idea of trading Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis.

Stephen A.: “This Is On Nico Harrison”

Smith pointed directly at the Mavericks’ front office, arguing that Harrison has mismanaged the team, leading to Irving’s latest injury setback. While injuries are unpredictable, Smith emphasized that the roster construction put too much weight on Irving, forcing him to play heavy minutes despite his history of injuries.

“You lost Kyrie, and what’s your backup plan? Play Klay?! That’s what Nico Harrison has done to the Dallas Mavericks. That’s all they have left. This man has no business being in charge of a basketball team,” Smith ranted.

With Irving sidelined, Klay Thompson, who has struggled with consistency since joining Dallas, is now expected to shoulder more offensive responsibility. Smith criticized this as an avoidable disaster, blaming Harrison for failing to build a roster with enough depth to handle injuries.

Blasting the Luka-AD Trade Talk

Smith also went off on Harrison’s recent comment, where the Mavs’ GM suggested that Dallas had “nothing to do” when discussing possible moves before the trade deadline. But what really set Smith off was the idea that anyone in the front office would even consider trading Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis.

“Who in their right mind would make the mistake of trading Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis? What is Nico Harrison thinking? Luka is THE franchise. AD is talented, but let’s be real, he’s not carrying a franchise like Luka. That’s the kind of thing that should get you fired,” Smith argued.

Calling for Nico Harrison’s Firing

Ultimately, Smith ended his rant by calling on Mark Cuban to fire Nico Harrison, claiming that his leadership has put the Mavs in a dangerous position. Between Irving’s injury, a weak supporting cast, and frustrating trade discussions, Smith believes the Mavs are being held back by poor decision-making at the top.

“At this point, Mark Cuban, do yourself a favor. Get rid of this man before he does more damage. Dallas deserves better,” Smith concluded.

With Irving out, Luka carrying the load alone, and Klay Thompson struggling, the Mavericks’ season is hanging in the balance—and for Stephen A. Smith, the blame falls squarely on Nico Harrison’s shoulders.