The Bobcat Nation

Nico Harrison getting all kinds of screen time tonight as the Mavericks look to close out the Timber Wolves in 4 games. They're crediting him as the architect of this Mavericks teams. He doesn't look hardly a day older than he looked when he played for the Bobcats back in 1996. What an amazing career he's having.

I bumped into him at some events in Portland and at a few NCAA regional sites over the years. He’s best known at Nike for being Kobe Bryant’s handler and that was before his promotion to VP of North American hoops.

He's five games away from being best known for building a championship team by signing World B. Flat

Nico went from looking like the worst GM in the NBA to the best one in the course of one calendar year, with how terrible the Kyrie Irving trade looked last year and how great it looks now. They also got a total steal in the draft this past year with Dereck Lively.

Pretty cool to think that Nico Harrison and Danny Sprinkle, two of the most influential people in the world of basketball right now, were teammates at Montana State and remain close friends.

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 9:57 pm

Pretty cool to think that Nico Harrison and Danny Sprinkle, two of the most influential people in the world of basketball right now, were teammates at Montana State and remain close friends.

Yeah it's crazy looking back. Watching those two when I was a kid was pretty cool.
Got Nico's autograph after a game one night when we saw him and some other players at dinner.

Fun memories and a fascinating story to look at.

Nico and the Mavs go to the NBA Finals! I've adopted them as my NBA team since Nico went there, Luka Doncic is absolutely phenomenal when he isn't getting in his own way by complaining to the refs too much.

Congrats to Nico. One of my all time favorites. I had season tickets when he and Sprinkle played. The Brick was rockin' in those days.

What's it worth financially to the Bobcat program to have these two at the top of the sport? Both from a recognition standpoint and possible personal contributions.

Looks like he will be there a while

One of the more interesting side plots for the Finals is how Mark Cuban is being methodically pushed away from the limelight by the new majority owners. He wasn’t even on the podium when the Mavs were presented the Western Conference trophy.

PapaG wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 6:40 am

One of the more interesting side plots for the Finals is how Mark Cuban is being methodically pushed away from the limelight by the new majority owners. He wasn’t even on the podium when the Mavs were presented the Western Conference trophy.

They're not doing a very good job of pushing him out of the limelight when he still sits right next to the team bench every game and gets plenty of TV airtime while doing so. When they won the 2011 championship Cuban brought the original Mavs owner up on stage and had him hold the trophy first. If you want to see a dysfunctional ownership situation, look no further than the Timberwolves who just lost to Dallas.

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 7:09 am

PapaG wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 6:40 am

One of the more interesting side plots for the Finals is how Mark Cuban is being methodically pushed away from the limelight by the new majority owners. He wasn’t even on the podium when the Mavs were presented the Western Conference trophy.

They're not doing a very good job of pushing him out of the limelight when he still sits right next to the team bench every game and gets plenty of TV airtime while doing so. When they won the 2011 championship Cuban brought the original Mavs owner up on stage and had him hold the trophy first. If you want to see a dysfunctional ownership situation, look no further than the Timberwolves who just lost to Dallas.

Yeah, that Glen Taylor fiasco is something to witness. The entire city can’t stand him.

Well, Nico is a rather controversial figure in Dallas right now after trading away Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, who's 7 years older than Luka and arguably even more prone to injuries. Seems like this decision may have been dictated by the new owners, but Nico won't last long as the GM if this works out as badly for Dallas as it looks on paper.

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2025 12:51 pm

Well, Nico is a rather controversial figure in Dallas right now after trading away Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, who's 7 years older than Luka and arguably even more prone to injuries. Seems like this decision may have been dictated by the new owners, but Nico won't last long as the GM if this works out as badly for Dallas as it looks on paper.

If new owners wanted it done, he got a couple players and a draft pick. Guess it depends on how that pick pans out and if AD contributes.

Jason Kidd has been pissed at Luka for his unwillingness to stay in shape. He was due a 5 year 350 million super max contract this summer. I guess Nico was over Luka's antics too. Being a Lakers fan, I'm happy as all get out. Hopefully Lebum can get through Luka's thick skull about the importance of staying in shape. I know for a fact Nico sent him a text and called him about the trade. No response to either. That means Luka is pissed. That can only be good news for the Lakes. At least I hope so.

This will go down as one of the worst trades in NBA history.
The only reason Nico has a job today was that the new ownership group had something to do it I'm sure of it. The fact that he didn't consult his head coach before trading away a top 10 (arguably top 5) NBA player is insane. Reguardless of what a head coach or management thinks about a guys fitness, you simply do not trade away a talent like Luka.
What more confusing is the fact that the Mavs didn't really "get" anything for the value you gave up. You're telling me the best you could do was get an injury plaigued Anthond Davis rental, Max Christie, and a 1st round pick? When the Suns traded for Durant they gave up 2 boarderline All-Stars as well as four 1st round draft picks knowing that they might get 5 more years out of him (if they could convince him to sign a contract). Luka is only 25 and is going to be in the league 15+ years assuming he stays healthy, and the best you could do is 3 players?
None of it makes sense to me. But, I guess that's why I don't make the big bucks..

Just read a very interesting piece tying all this together with the Mavs owners, their desire for a casino resort in Dallas, and the TX legislature. Makes a lot of sense now.

LTown Cat wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2025 6:17 pm

Just read a very interesting piece tying all this together with the Mavs owners, their desire for a casino resort in Dallas, and the TX legislature. Makes a lot of sense now.

Yep. And a casino resort including a new arena that the Mavericks would play in. All about the money!

LTown Cat wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2025 6:17 pm

Just read a very interesting piece tying all this together with the Mavs owners, their desire for a casino resort in Dallas, and the TX legislature. Makes a lot of sense now.

So Luka doesn't like to gamble at casinos?

lutecat wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:06 am

LTown Cat wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 03, 2025 6:17 pm

Just read a very interesting piece tying all this together with the Mavs owners, their desire for a casino resort in Dallas, and the TX legislature. Makes a lot of sense now.

So Luka doesn't like to gamble at casinos?

Luka likes the buffets at the Casinos... (IT'S JUST A JOKE)... There is obviously more to this than anyone knows. Reports are that Luka wouldn't talk to them about his injury, and that he had a private trainer and medical team, and the Mavs had to talk to THEM about his return... (Sounds a lot like what Brady was doing in New England.. How did that end). In the short term, this makes the Mavs better. Luka was the worst Defenser in the league.