Every leader faces a moment when they must choose between what’s easy and what’s necessary. And, as the leadership of the Dallas Mavericks proved this weekend, choosing what’s necessary can inspire a backlash.
Over the weekend, the basketball world was stunned when the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic—one of the game’s most electrifying young stars—to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for veteran big man Anthony Davis. The reaction was swift and brutal. Fans and analysts alike questioned how Dallas could part ways with a 25-year-old perennial All-Star for a 31-year-old with over a dozen grueling NBA seasons under his belt. Some pundits are already calling it the worst trade in league history.
But Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison had a different perspective which he shared with the media. “Defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN.
“I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance,” Harrison added. “We’re built to win now and in the future.”
Harrison made the same points to the Dallas Morning News. “I do believe that we positioned ourselves to win now and also win in the future,” he said. “And that’s ultimately the goal and why we’re here. It’s one of those things where it’s my job to make the tough decisions that put our goals first and foremost.”
Davis, Harrison added, will help Dallas in the long run. “We think that’s gonna help us where we need it the most, on the defensive end,” Harrison told the Dallas Morning News.
Buried in his praise of Davis’s defense was the comment not said: while Doncic is prolific as a scorer, he is a sieve as a defender. His eye-popping baskets cannot cover for the fact that no one in the NBA fears he can stop them on the other end of the court. Worse, he has shown little inclination to improve his defense, an area where the Mavericks have struggled compared to some of the other top teams in the league. The Mavericks currently rank 12th in the NBA in team defense, with most of the top contenders ahead of them.
Harrison understood something that many leaders struggle with. Success isn’t about being great at just one thing. It’s about balance. It’s about identifying your weaknesses and making the hard decisions necessary to shore them up.
Doncic is a dazzling offensive force, but there were times he barely waved at the player he was “guarding.”
Meanwhile, Davis is a proven defensive anchor—one of the best in the league who has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team five times—who can change the way an opponent plays. Harrison wasn’t blinded by Dončić’s offensive brilliance. He recognized that, to build a championship team, he had to sacrifice individual excellence for a more complete, well-rounded approach.
The same is true in business. A company can have a world-class sales team, but if it can’t deliver on logistics, customer service, or execution, success will always be limited. Great companies—and great leaders—don’t just play to their strengths. They address their weaknesses.
Harrison is taking heat now, but he’s betting that, in time, results will justify the decision and the Mavericks faithful will come around. “I’m sorry they’re frustrated, but it’s something that we believe in as an organization that’s going to make us better. When we win, I believe the frustration will go away,” he told the Dallas Morning News.
This is what leadership looks like. The best leaders aren’t afraid to make tough, unpopular decisions in the pursuit of excellence. They don’t just do what’s easy—they do what’s right. Because in the end, it’s not about being popular. It’s about improving your team and winning.