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Hated Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison has released a statement following the injury of Kyrie Irving.
Mavericks guard Irving tore his ACL in the middle of a 122–98 loss to the Sacramento Kings, which ended his season.
“There aren’t words to fully describe who Kyrie Irving is to this team or what he means to us as an organization,” Harrison said, via Shams Charania. “Kyrie is the heart and soul of this team.”
The Mavericks acquired Irving from the Nets in February of 2023, which marked the end a disastrous tenure marred by a number of off-court controversies that were blown way out of proportion (if you ask the average NBA fan today).
Irving then helped Dallas win the Western Conference title in 2024 and get to the NB Finals to face the Celtics.
“His work ethic and absolute dedication to his craft, it’s cut from the cloth of greats. I know it, I lived it, and I see the same ferocity and passion in him that I saw in (Hall of Fame guard) Kobe (Bryant),” Harrison said, seemingly alluding to his past work with Bryant for Nike.
The criticism of Harrison at the moment is inescapable.
Since Harrison orchestrated the Luka Doncic trade, people are blaming him for this also, given Irving’s increased minutes in Doncic’s absence.
Some NBA fans have even pointed to all the players he’s let go during his tenure, including Luka, Jalen Brunson, Kristaps Porzingis and Quentin Grimes.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor didn’t mince words on Tuesday when he reacted to Kyrie’s injury.
“Patrick Dumont, the Mavericks owner, needs to fire Nico Harrison today,” O’Connor said on his podcast.
He added, “They need to shut down [Anthony Davis] for the remainder of the season.”
READ MORE: Kyrie Irving Provides Update on His ACL Injury: ‘I Will Be Back’
