Kyrie & Luca. Jaylen & Jayson. What Leaders Can Learn from These NBA Finals Teammates

The Dallas Mavericks (Mavs) have returned to the NBA Finals after a 13-year absence since their 2011 Championship. The Boston Celtics return to the “big dance” with a storied history that includes 17 titles, but the last championship in 2008.

?So, being in the 2024 NBA Finals ends a decade-long drought for both franchises.

While that could be the major storyline for the upcoming championship, the dominant conversations center around the dynamic duos for each team: Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic for the Dallas Mavs; Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum for the Boston Celtics.

In the New York Times Best Seller, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni describes the 5 dysfunctions that impact the ability to create a functional and cohesive team that is aligned and able to work collaboratively in pursuit of organizational goals. ?Below you’ll find a list of the dysfunctions.

• Dysfunction #1: Absence of Trust: The fear of being vulnerable with team members prevents the building of trust within the team.
• Dysfunction #2: Fear of Conflict: The desire to preserve artificial harmony stifles the occurrence of productive, ideological conflict.
• Dysfunction #3: Lack of Commitment: The lack of clarity or buy-in prevents team members from making decisions they will stick to.
• Dysfunction #4: Avoidance of Accountability: The need to avoid interpersonal discomfort prevents team members from holding one another accountable for their behaviors and performance.
• Dysfunction #5: Inattention to Results: The pursuit of individual goals and personal status erodes the focus on collective success.

Because trust is the foundation of a functional and cohesive team, that will be the focal point of discussion in looking at the dynamic duos for the Mavs and the Celtics. Without trust, the team will struggle to resolve conflict, buy-in to decisions, create accountability and work towards the collective goals.

Here’s a look at the dynamic duos and how they’ve demonstrated trust as teammates.

Kyrie and Luca:

It’s evident that Kyrie and Luca trust one another on the court as demonstrated by their on and off court interactions, including Luka’s statement, “I’m so glad he’s on my team.”

In the press coverage leading up to the start of the NBA finals, there was discussion surrounding the mutual respect that he and Luka have for one another. This mutual respect and sense of belonging has created chemistry between the two players that allows them to share the spotlight and capitalize on each other’s strengths. For example, you see Luka making the pass to Kyrie, so he can cut to the basket and make the quick move as the point guard. Similarly, Kyrie “feeds” Luka the ball on the perimeter, so Luka can create one of his favorite shots, the fade away 3-pointer.

Jayson and Jaylen:

Whenever you bring together two superstars on a team, there will be inevitably be discussions about whether the two stars can put aside their egos and work together in the best interest of the team - winning an NBA Championship.

The same has been true for Jayson and Jaylen. Given their performance in the finals, the doubters have been quieted. When you watch Jayson and Jaylen on the court, it’s evident they have developed a high level of trust. For example, whether it’s knowing where the other is going to be at any given point in time on the court to make the pivotal pass or trusting that both players can make key plays to secure the Celtics’ Game 3 win after allowing a 21-point lead to slip away, Jayson and Jaylen worked together to get the job done. They did not blame one another or their teammates; instead, they made the necessary plays to secure a win and embraced at the end of the game in a clear sign of their mutual respect and support of each other.

While your organization may not be pursuing an NBA championship, you are pursuing strategic priorities that will define your success and winning. In order to achieve the desired outcomes, a cohesive team is critical. Why? When your organization has a team that is both functional and cohesive, you have a competitive advantage and a way to differentiate your organization. Functional teams tend to retain their superstars, are more likely to be high performing, make better decisions, produce more, achieve better results, and avoid the costs associated with the frustration and politics that characterize dysfunctional teams.

Given the success of the dynamic duos that are competing in the NBA finals and the aforementioned benefits, take a look at your organization. What lessons can your organizational leaders successfully leverage? After you make a list of the lessons learned, prioritize and then work towards implementation to create wins.

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