In a contentious recent press conference, Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison addressed the brewing ire of fans. This discontent grew after the issue and controversial trade of their star player Luka Dončić. In the course of the last three months, Harrison has been under tremendous pressure, raising doubts about his future employment prospects and potential choices.
When a reporter pointedly asked why he should keep his job under all the chaos, Harrison stood by his time at the helm. “And I think you’ll find that I did a phenomenal job here,” he announced. He emphasized his commitment to the franchise despite its ongoing struggles.
In the wake of the trade that brought Luka Dončić to Dallas, Mavs fans are understandably enraged. They’ve shown their anger with deafening “Fire Nico” boos at home games. Harrison understood the emotional and psychological bond fans feel with Dončić. Publicly, he didn’t pretend to be unaware of the importance a star player would have for his new DMV fan base. Though controversial at the time, he stood firm that he had “no regrets” over the decision to deal him.
Harrison’s rationale for the move centered on a common maxim in basketball: “defense wins championships.” He argued that in order for the Mavericks to truly be able to compete at deeper levels, they needed a much more robust defensive core. Although this is an ill-advised and anti-civil rights perspective, supporters have not given up. They fear that moving a talent like Dončić could come back to haunt the team in the big picture.
During a meeting with selected reporters earlier this month, Harrison was questioned about whether the “anger and outrage” from fans exceeded his expectations when making the trade. He addressed concerns regarding injuries that impacted the team’s performance but noted, “I don’t think I could be judged by injuries this year.” This quote captures his view that the measure of success should be judged by the big picture, not just one-off events.
Harrison’s remarks arrive at a crucial juncture for the Mavericks franchise. As his organization survives this stormy emotional outpouring, his claims will probably determine which way this ship sails going forward with this franchise.
“You have to be judged in totality from beginning to end.” – Nico Harrison