Harrison’s bold welcome.
Nico Harrison’s Message to D’Angelo Russell After Mavericks Signing Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Dallas Mavericks officially added veteran playmaker D’Angelo Russell on June 30, inking him to a two‑year, $13 million deal, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
The move both shores up a depleted Mavs backcourt and signals a new chapter for a franchise that missed the playoffs in 2024‑25.
While the teams and figures involved might prefer to let the basketball speak for itself, a recently surfaced phone call between Russell and GM Nico Harrison sheds light on the underlying optimism in Dallas.
Harrison opens the call with, "I can’t believe I still got your number... you really fit what we’re trying to do."
Russell replies, "I like me with a chip on my shoulder," to which Harrison responds, "Nah, man, I like you with a chip on your shoulder... It’s about to be a problem."
Nico Harrison: “You really fit what we’re trying to do."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 9, 2025
D’Angelo Russell: "I like me with a chip on my shoulder."
Nico: “I like you with a chip on your shoulder… It’s about to be a problem.”
DLo: "Let's get it."
(via @The_BackyardPod/ YT)pic.twitter.com/JbUKKV6ul2
A former second overall pick in 2015 out of of Ohio State, Russell has carved out a 10‑year NBA career across four teams.
He earned his lone All‑Star nod in 2019 with the Brooklyn Nets, and over 629 career games, he owns averages of 17.3 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 29.8 minutes per contest.
Last season, he split time between the Los Angeles Lakers and Nets, putting up 12.6 points, 5.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds across 58 games (36 starts).
After reaching the NBA Finals in 2023‑24, the Mavericks entered last season with championship aspirations.
Instead, a mid‑season blockbuster trade sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving went down with a torn ACL in March and Dallas limped to a 39‑43 record, good for 10th in the Western Conference.
Now with No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg in the fold, as well as the freshly acquired Russell, expectations are once again sky high for the Mavericks going into next season.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
