The Dallas Mavericks’ hiring of Nico Harrison as normal supervisor in 2021 got here after a swift courtship by proprietor Mark Cuban, who made the transfer regardless of initially partaking the search agency Sportsology to search out Donnie Nelson’s successor.
In line with league sources, influential agent Jeff Schwartz, who represents Jason Kidd and later grew to become Harrison’s agent, offered a powerful advice to Cuban on Harrison’s behalf. The Nike govt had no prior connection to the Mavericks group earlier than his hiring. Dallas made the considerably unconventional choice to rent a head coach earlier than a normal supervisor, however that wasn’t thought-about a serious deal on the time because of Cuban’s outsized function in basketball operations.Â
Harrison’s enchantment was bolstered by his in depth league-wide relationships developed throughout his Nike tenure and the truth that the San Antonio Spurs had beforehand tried to rent him thrice with out success.
Sources informed The Stein Line that the chance to run a franchise with Luka Doncic as its centerpiece was often cited as a key consider Harrison’s choice to lastly go away Nike for an NBA entrance workplace place.
The hiring choice has taken on vital new implications following the Mavericks’ surprising Western Convention Finals look in 2024 and Harrison’s subsequent surprising choice to commerce Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
