Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison may never hear the end of criticism from the Dallas fanbase following the trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the animosity is misguided, NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton says.

A member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Payton, whose son Gary Payton II currently plays for the Golden State Warriors, had some interesting words about the current Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, a controversial figure in Dallas to say the least.

Former NBA star Gary Payton has defended Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison. Payton, 56, is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.