Nico Harrison Reitera su Confianza en la Estrategia Defensiva de los Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has reiterated his commitment to the “defense wins championships” philosophy, thus justifying the controversial decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. This move, which has generated a strong reaction among Dallas fans, has led to chants calling for Harrison’s dismissal.
In a briefing with local media, Harrison, along with the new CEO of the Mavs, Rick Welts, addressed the trade of 26-year-old Dončić in exchange for a package led by 32-year-old All-Star power forward Anthony Davis. The conversation revolved around this operation that has shaken the fans.
“I don’t regret the trade,” said Harrison, who also mentioned that his job involves making decisions that may be unpopular but necessary for the future of the Mavericks.
Nico Harrison
Harrison defended the decisions made, including the trades of Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, and noted that, often, the initial assessments of trades change over time. The executive emphasized that defense is the fundamental pillar for achieving success, and that this trade reinforces that strategy.
When asked if the team that reached the NBA Finals, with Dončić as a key player, could aspire to the title, Harrison reiterated his position: “Defense wins championships.”
While the Mavericks had one of the best defenses in the league in the final stretch of last season, their performance in the Finals was not enough. Harrison, who gave up first-round picks from 2027 to 2030, believes in a long-term project, although injuries have affected the team’s aspirations.
Harrison expressed his confidence in the project and his continued presence on the team, stating that he has three more years on his contract and hopes that the results will change the fans’ perception. The general manager hoped that the criticism would diminish with the performance of the team built around Davis and Irving, but injuries have affected the Mavericks’ performance.
The only time Irving and Davis played together was in the victory against the Houston Rockets, where Davis had an outstanding performance before getting injured. Harrison described that team as “championship caliber”.
Mark Cuban, former owner of the Mavericks, has criticized Harrison for not maximizing the return from the Dončić trade. Davis arrived in Dallas along with Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.
Harrison justified the decision not to consult Cuban, nor Dirk Nowitzki, explaining that the opinion of people who are involved in the day-to-day running of the team was sought. Mavericks fans continue to show their unconditional support, with Dončić’s jerseys, both Mavericks and Lakers and the Slovenian national team, being the bestsellers.
Dončić’s return to Dallas with the Lakers was an emotional event, with a pre-game tribute and an outstanding performance by the player. Despite the defeat, the fans gave him ovations.
Rick Welts highlighted that the season ticket renewal rate remains high, indicating the support of the fans. Welts is confident that the team will regain the confidence of the fans through daily work and performance on the court.
