The massively underrated quality that makes Nico Harrison one of the NBA's top GMs

The Dallas Mavericks won the Western Conference last season and have been in the conference finals in two of the three years with Nico Harrison as general manager. The former Nike executive did not draft Luka Doncic. Still, he has done an outstanding job putting a winner around him, including overcoming losing Jalen Brunson with zero return in free agency.

Fans will point to Harrison’s track record in trades. He acquired Kyrie Irving on a discount, moved back in the draft to get Dereck Lively II, and just landed Klay Thompson. If the five-time All-Star is a difference-maker in Dallas, the Mavs may win their second championship in franchise history. Harrison deserves credit for his talent acquisition, but it is not his only endearing quality.

The 51-year-old has done well creating a culture and attracting players to Dallas. He has vaulted to the top in short order, and this separates him from even the best general managers the NBA has to offer.

Nico Harrison’s willingness to admit and fix mistakes makes him an elite GM

No general manager nails every move. Finding the best players in the draft is an inexact science and role players often excel based on fit. There are always mistakes in talent acquisition, but Harrison’s reactions to his misses are unique.

Most NBA executives stick with a decision far too long when it is not working and many even double down. Harrison admits his mistake and corrects it as quickly as possible.

He signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to a contract extension shortly after taking the job in 2021 and dumped the veteran this offseason, despite it costing three second-round picks.

The Mavericks signed JaVale McGee in 2022 to be their starting center and it did not work. The following offseason Dallas waived and stretched his contract, which will remain on their books through 2028.

Harrison pulled off a regrettable trade for Grant Williams in the summer of 2023. Things did not work, so the Mavericks traded him to Charlotte for P.J. Washington at last season’s trade deadline. It was Washington playing a key role in Dallas reaching the NBA Finals, but only because Harrison admitted and fixed his error.

The Mavericks general manager is not afraid to be bold and quickly pivot when things are not working. It has helped Dallas be one of the final four teams standing in two of the last three years. Even when they faltered in 2023, Harrison corrected his mistakes and got the team in a position to succeed. Admitting a failure is not easy and giving up more assets to fix it is even more difficult, but he does not let his ego get in the way.

Nico Harrison is always trying to maximize his roster and chances of winning. The Dallas Mavericks certainly got a special one, and the best is still yet to come. Expect Harrison to keep improving their roster and putting Luka Doncic and company in position to succeed. He is already one of the NBA’s best GMs, and the 51-year-old is just getting started.