Jim Jackson knows what it’s like when Dallas fans turn on you. The former Mavericks fourth overall pick lived through his own contract battles and trade rumors in the 1990s. Now he’s watching Nico Harrison face similar heat for trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers, and Jackson thinks the criticism has gone too far.
Why Does Jackson Believe Harrison Was Unfairly Criticized?
Former Dallas Mavericks star Jim Jackson appeared on the ‘Podcast P’ with Paul George, defending Mavericks GM Nico Harrison for his decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, despite it being viewed as one of the worst decisions in NBA history.
“If you backtrack and look at the history with Luka and the Mavericks, there’s always been a little tension with Nico [Harrison] and the front office. When it finally hit, everybody reacted like, ‘You can’t do that,’” Jackson explained during the podcast.
Jackson’s defense centers on the relationship breakdown between Harrison and Dončić that had been building for months. As reported by ESPN NBA insider Tim McMahon, there was reportedly bad blood between the Mavericks’ GM and Dončić before his trade to the Lakers, after Harrison criticized the Lakers’ star for adding “more than a dozen pounds” and feigning injuries.
“Sources said Harrison and the Mavs’ medical staff considered the diagnosis a cover-up to allow Dončić time to work on his conditioning and shed weight after a sluggish start to the season by his standards,” McMahon wrote.
Former Mavs GM Donnie Nelson shares thoughts on Luka Doncic trade: ‘It’s just not right’ https://t.co/MGPndgTw2q
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) July 6, 2025
The tension reached a breaking point when a video was somehow released after one of the games, Dončić sat out, showcasing the former Mavericks star scrimmaging with members of staff while appearing perfectly healthy. Some suggested that it was Harrison who released it, further damaging their relationship.
“On November 29, a day before the fifth and final game [Dončić] sat out, a television in the media room at the Mavs’ practice facility was tuned into the closed-circuit feed of Dončić scrimmaging with low-minute players and staffers,” McMahon explained.
How Did New Ownership Influence the Decision?
Jackson also pointed to the change in ownership as a crucial factor that many critics overlook. The Mavericks are no longer Mark Cuban’s team, and the new owners bring a completely different business philosophy.
“But people need to understand, there’s new ownership now. It’s not Mark Cuban anymore. It’s an entirely different group, and their background is casinos. They’re making money totally differently and looking at this from a business standpoint,” Jackson suggested.
The former Mavericks player emphasized that Harrison didn’t make this decision in isolation. When facing a potential $350 million commitment to a player the organization had lost trust in, the choice became bigger than basketball. For the unversed, it was widely expected that Dončić would be offered and sign a five-year, close to $350 million supermax deal with the Mavericks when he became eligible in August.
“Are we paying $350 million for someone we can’t trust? That kind of decision isn’t just Nico’s alone. Ownership has to sign off if Nico goes to them and says, ‘We need to sign him for $350 million…So I think he got unfairly criticized for it,” Jackson questioned.
What Were the Financial Consequences of the Trade?
However, despite offloading a significant amount of money in potentially problematic cap space, the Mavericks reportedly lost millions of dollars following the decision to trade Dončić, according to McMahon, as fans scrambled to cancel their season tickets.
“It will cost the franchise nine figures over the next several years, as the Mavs are projected to lose millions in revenue this season due to dwindling crowds, plummeting merchandise sales, and sponsors severing ties with the franchise in the wake of the trade.”
Going into the 2025-26 season, with number one overall pick Cooper Flagg, Harrison and the Mavericks will surely look to put Dončić in the past with a star-studded lineup that includes former Lakers star Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.
