RSS Mavericks Team Notes

[Dallas Mavericks]

Shenanigans for charity at the 7th Annual Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic

DALLAS, TX — Dirk Nowitzki doesn’t move laterally quite as well as he once did, but he’s still fond of giving his good friend and Dallas Mavericks broadcaster Devin Harris some good-natured ribbing about Harris’ tennis game.

“I actually didn’t ask him back [for five years] because his tennis was so bad, but he asked to come back, so here he is,” Nowitzki said of Harris in the event’s introductory press conference. “I hope everyone is ready for some, somewhat suspect, tennis. Devin’s my guy obviously. It’s not going to be any better than it was five years ago, but love Devin. He’s got a huge heart. he’s always ready to help out wherever you need him, so I’m glad he’s back, and we’ll see what he’s got.”

Double faults were counted throughout the day’s events, and though they were common, the day went off without a hitch at Dallas’ Banner House T-Bar-M indoor tennis facility. Nowtizki played delegator when he wasn’t firing first-serve fastballs during his time on the court and talking trash to another good friend in Steve Nash, his opposite team captain.

“Yours,” Nowitzki would tell his doubles partner when a ball would have required more than one or two steps in either direction. “That’s you.”

Nash won the impromptu Knock-Out game over fellow finalist and Dude Perfect co-founder Coby Cotton, and Nash’s team also won the Eliminator challenge over Team Dirk, prompting Nowitzki to wonder whether he should stack his own team next year in order to get a win and some bragging rights over his favorite point guard.

About 1,000 of Dallas’ country club types filled the stands at T-Bar-M in Far North Dallas, getting a laugh out of celebrity appearances from Texas Rangers’ Hall of Famer Elvis Andrus and local radio personality Corby Davidson. Mavericks broadcaster Jeff “Skin” Wade and NBA insider Marc Stein handled host and emcee duties in between doubles matches.

Most of the attendees that I spoke to were associated with either Dirk’s foundation or one of the event’s sponsors, but the event created a fun “see-and-be-seen-in-your-cutest-tennis-outfit” atmosphere in North Dallas.

“When I first got here the Mavs were a little low on the totem pole, so they kind of told us to stay away, ‘don’t come to our event,’ but I kind of grew into it as we got better,” Nowitzki said. “I always mention my buddies Steve Nash and Michael Finley who were veterans who had been around a couple years and are great personalities, great people with big hearts, and they both had foundations, so I kind of learned from them. You learn to give back to the community that you play in. The NBA makes an emphasis on that to take care of the community, so you learn from veterans, you learn from your team. Obviously people come out, support you and spend their hard-earned money on you, and it’s on NBA players to give back and be part of the community, so it was instilled in me early. I founded the foundation in 2001 in my second or third year, so it’s been a long time, and I’ve been proud of the run, of the journey. The foundation took off more once Jess came on board — my wife — she came from the non-profit world and brought all her connections from the arts and her network, and then we started having events like this and that’s when the foundation really took off.

Cooper Flagg was in attendance at the event but did not take part in any of the “suspect tennis.” Former NBA star Joakim Noah, whose dad Yannick won the 1983 French Open and former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett were in attendance as well. Andrus, though his backhand form leaves a little to be desired, was the author of several dazzling hustle points during his time on the court.

pic.twitter.com/tdaxI13vts

— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) September 13, 2025

“Cooper, I heard, is not much of a tennis player, but his support means the world to us,” Nowitzki said. “We’re excited to host him, show him a good time, hang out a bit — yea just get to know him and some other community leaders a little bit. Hopefully the Mavs will have him for a long, long time. The hype is real, for sure.”

Before the tennis tournament took shape seven years ago, the Nowitzki Foundation’s premiere annual event was Dirk’s annual celebrity baseball game, which was held several times at Riders Field in Frisco. Dirk has since moved on from belting seeing-eye singles through a slow-moving infield to serving missiles into the waiting backhands of local emissaries at this new charitable endeavor while still maintaining that characteristic deprecating charm and wit throughout the event.

Through his foundation, Nowitzki awards grants annually to organizations focusing on children’s wellbeing, health and education. With this he offers the people of Dallas-Fort Worth an opportunity to help give positive experiences to children around the world. Recent grant recipients include the Dallas Tennis Education Academy for Oak Cliff, the Grant Halliburton Foundation, G.I.F.T.4.S Academy, C5 Texas, Cafe Momentum, Ascend Dallas and the Heroes Foundation. The Nowtizki Foundation has raised over $250,000 this year and hopes Saturday’s event will provide a much needed boon for charitable organizations in the area that aren’t as well-equipped to raise their own funds going forward.

Though his tenure in the Mavs’ front office fizzled out in a somewhat head-scratching end as the Adelson Regime took over majority ownership of the team, professionally, Nowitzki still retains looser ties to the team while he transitions into a broadcast role himself with Amazon Prime.

“I’ve been anxious [to get started] a little bit,” Nowitzki said of his new-found press pass. “Started looking at some rosters. I don’t want to get there on October 24th and don’t know the players or this coach, so I’m started to prepare early. If I commit to something, I want to do a great job. It’s getting real now. I think — happy with the crew we assembled. Steve, being a friend and knowing Blake [Griffin] for a long time, I think there’s some chemistry and we’re going to be comfortable up there. We’ll joke around a bunch. We’ll hopefully analyze and it’ll be fun. I never thought I’d be a part of the media, no offense, but I think this is a great opportunity with some great people so I’m looking forward to how this is going to shape up.”

For his part, Nash added:

“We’re excited. It’s a new opportunity for us to challenge ourselves and to do it together. I’m sure we’ve got a lot to learn and a lot of growth ahead of us, but hopefully it doesn’t take too long before we can find our voice and be as authentic as possible, and people can get a glimpse of not only our experience on the court but our friendship off the court as well.”

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...owitzki-foundation-tennis-classic-7th-charity

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Cooper Flagg attending Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic, forge relationship with Mavericks legend

The legend of Dallas past, and the hope for Mavericks future, will share time together in the city this weekend. Dirk Nowitzki will host the seventh annual Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic on September 13 at Banner House at T Bar M, and has invited new-Maverick Cooper Flagg to participate. In a sit down with Mike Curtis of Dallas Morning News, Dirk spoke about his foundation’s efforts in conjunction with the celebrity tournament, his relationship with the franchise and its newest prized acquisition, and his focus on new role with the NBA studio show produced by Amazon Prime.

It has been no secret that Nowitzki’s relationship chilled over the last 18 months, particularly during its transition from majority ownership by close friend Mark Cuban. Dirk went from legendary player, to vague front office consultant, to nearly forgotten reference point during the PR debacle from the franchise after the Luka Doncic trade. And for Nowitzki, who’s stood on loyalty during his last 25+ years in public life in the states, it has been troubling to witness that dynamic when he still resides with his family in the area.

But Dirk, ever the professional, his time with Dallas Morning News revealed that while he and Flagg have not met and don’t currently have much of a relationship, he’s very willing to be of support to him as he transitions to an even larger stage.

“We were texting a bit after he was drafted,” Nowitzki shared. “I wanted to welcome him to the city and let him know if there’s anything he ever needs that I’m here for him and happy to help. I’m just a phone call away.”

Dirk reflected that the transition into the league is never easy, even for someone like Flagg who has seemed in the spotlight for several years at just 18 years old. The 6’9 do-it-all forward, who was selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks this summer, spent the summer of 2024 scrimmaging with a star-studded Team USA before the Olympics, followed by a flashy and impressive single season at Duke University. But even with those accolades Dirk knows it will be a process for him.

“I’m not quite sure I can help him with advice. The only thing is keep your eyes and ears open. Keep learning from your veterans…Ask questions. How are their pregame routines? What do they eat? How do they prepare for events? What do they do with appearances? How do they interact with the media? That was key for me at the beginning, watching Michael Finley, who was a true pro. Steve Nash, learning from them.”

Flagg has shown an eagerness to learn accompanied by a fiery confidence while on the floor. And while Nowitzki is right that he has several veteran players to learn from while in the locker room, he is smart to tap into Dirk’s wisdom and build that relationship as the hall-of-famer remains willing.

“I think that’ll be my advice. Learn as much as you can. Soak it all up and eventually use it and find your own routine. Find your own way of leading.”

The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic will be September 13 from 11:30 AM until 3 PM.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...ssic-forge-relationship-with-mavericks-legend

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: The Philadelphia 76ers’ championship window is now or never

After signing Paul George, drafting Jared McCain, and adding pieces around the edges last summer, the 76ers had hopes of a championship. No one in that organization was scouting lottery talent until injuries decimated the roster and they were forced into a tank. It was as disastrous a season as you could imagine for a franchise with real title hopes, and the pressure has mounted for success in 2026.

It is hard to see where they go if they aren’t good and healthy this season. They have two massive contracts (a combined $106 million for Joel Embiid and Paul George in 2026) that hinder their ability to do anything with the roster if this experiment fails. No one will trade for either of those guys with their age and health record. If Embiid plays, the team is right there in a very weak East. If not, the boos at Xfinity Mobile Arena will be heard from sea to shining sea.

Philadelphia 76ers: Over/Under 42.5 (-102/-120)​

Last Season: 24-58​

Additions: Kyle Lowry, VJ Edgecombe​

Losses: N/A​

Philadelphia’s glaring weakness is health. They lost star rookie Jared McCain to a torn ACL and got just 60 games out of Paul George and Joel Embiid. George and McCain should be back, joining Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to create a very formidable backcourt rotation. Unfortunately, the best ability is availability, and Embiid has not proven that he can be on the court for extended periods. Especially considering there has been no update on whether or not he will even play this season. The roster around him is guard-heavy and not super flexible. Another struggle bus is due east for Philadelphia.

Prediction: Under 42.5 wins (-120)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...2025-26-nba-season-preview-fanduel-sportsbook

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Will Anthony Davis be 100% to start the season?

Since Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison traded for Anthony Davis in February of last season, the latter was a dependably efficient 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in Big D. And those stats don’t even demonstrate his value on defense, as a rim protector.

Unfortunately, however, as impressive as the stats are, they represent merely the average of the 9 games out of a potential 30 that Davis played in for the Mavericks after his arrival, starting with his first game with the team on February 8th. In that game, expectations began to rise quickly for what this new team could be. Davis played almost 31 minutes and had a very dominant first half, showcasing all the things that make him an elite big, thereby adding his signature to an overall successful team effort that painted a picture of a very high ceiling for Harrison’s new, defensive-minded group. But just as this glorious vision was beginning to materialize, Davis then suffered a groin injury and had to leave the game, limiting him to his human alter-ego, “Street Clothes”, for two thirds of the remaining games, while AD – the superhero – made very limited appearances after that time.

Some speculated that the Maverick’s decision to field Davis so early on in his recovery from a previous abdominal injury was the result of shortsighted thinking, perhaps crafted from a desire for respite from the biting assaults the team’s brass were being subjected to as a direct result of the Doncic trade that brought AD into the fold from the Los Angeles Lakers. At any rate, Harrison’s newest weapon would be sidelined once more, a status which has been an unfortunate constant in his (otherwise) extremely impressive career. But this specific injury was, perhaps, more due to the fact that the team chose its short-term interests first (something of a growing consistency for them), rather than simply AD’s inability to stay healthy.

Fast forward to now, just a short 6 weeks ahead of the NBA regular season opener, and we find the Mavs – first of all – most certainly without Kyrie Irving in the projected lineup (who is still recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in March), and secondly, perhaps also without a fully healthy Anthony Davis. At some point near the end of last season, Davis suffered an injury to his eye, likely the result, it’s said, of an elbow to the face. After playing through that injury for the remainder of the year, it eventually required surgery for the repair of a detached retina, which he underwent on July 8th.

Mavericks training camp is less than 3 weeks away with the season just around the corner…

Will Anthony Davis, who is recovering from eye surgery, be ready when camp opens and the season begins?

Check out what Marc Stein had to say about AD’s status on today’s show #MFFL pic.twitter.com/8jPO4XOvNb

— DLLS Mavs (@DLLS_Mavs) September 11, 2025

NBA insider Marc Stein just appeared on the DLLS Mavs podcast and voiced his concerns over AD’s recovery timeline (which was originally predicted by the team to be complete by the start of training camp). Stein’s emphasis on that recovery timeline highlights just how pivotal the health of Irving and Davis will be to the Mavericks’ ceiling and overall success this coming season.

Stein had this to say:

“When practices start on September 30th, will AD even be ready to practice at that point? We don’t know that yet. So it’s not just the potential of starting the season without Kyrie… Ya know, is AD gonna be ready to go on opening night against San Antonio? I mean, October 22nd ain’t that far away.”

Stay tuned…

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...davis-healthy-eye-dallas-mavericks-nba-season

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Who else? Paige Bueckers wins WNBA Rookie of the Year

Paige Bueckers had a message for the sparse crowd that lingered for the end of the Dallas Wings’ final game of the season, an inspired 97-76 win on Thursday over the playoff bound and No. 4 seeded Phoenix Mercury.

“The results are coming — I promise,” she told the crowd that gave her a standing ovation as she lit a flimsy replica of Reunion Tower from midcourt at Arlington’s College Park Center. “Stick with us.”

The next day, some results started to follow, albeit in the form of Bueckers’ own personal accolades, when she was named the AP WNBA Rookie of the Year. Well, on Tuesday, the official accolade came in. After cementing herself as a top-five scorer and top-10 dime disher in her first year, Bueckers was named Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year on Tuesday.

The guard out of UConn averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game in her rookie year with the Wings after being taken with the No. 1 overall pick in April’s 2025 WNBA Draft. Bueckers set Wings franchise records for points in a rookie season, points per game, assists, assists per game and had two points-assists double-doubles in 2025. She was the only player in the WNBA to finish in the top nine in scoring (5th), assists (9th) and steals (6th). Her 20.3 efficiency rating was the best in the W among guards and ranked seventh overall in the league.

Her 44-point barrage on Aug. 20, in an 81-80 loss at the Los Angeles Sparks, was the most points scored in a single game by any WNBA player since 2023. In that game, Bueckers became the only woman in WNBA history to score 40-plus points while shooting better than 80% from the field in a game.

She also becomes the only rookie in league history to average 19 or more points per game while shooting at least 47% from the field, and just the second (Candace Parker) to average at least 19 points, five assists and shoot over 47%. Bueckers shot 47.7% from the field in her rookie season and 33.1% from 3-point range. There is little doubt that improved 3-point shooting will be a point of emphasis for Bueckers going into her second season.

In July, she became just the 10th WNBA rookie to start an All-Star game. Bueckers is now just the seventh player in league history to be named an All-Star starter and to win Rookie of the Year in the same season. She was named Rookie of the Month three times in 2025 (June, July, August).

Bueckers is the second Dallas Wing to win Rookie of the Year since the team’s move to Big D before the 2016 season. WNBA Coach of the Year will be announced on Wednesday, and finalists for the WNBA MVP will be announced on Friday. The MVP announcement will come on Sunday, while the All-WNBA First and Second Teams will be announced on Oct. 7. Keep an eye on that last one.

The 6-foot superstar is a real treat to watch — take it from a guy who had little to no interest in the WNBA until the arrival of Caitlin Clark last year. Clark went on to be named to the All-WNBA First Team last season, the first rookie to get the nod since 2008 (also Candace Parker). Will Bueckers make it two rookies in a row this year?

At one point early on this year, it looked like Washington Mystics’ guard Sonia Citron would give Bueckers a run for her money with regards to the Rookie of the Year award, but over the course of the summer, Bueckers separated herself from the 3-point assassin from Notre Dame with her consistency, her ability to score from anywhere on the court and the big moments she authored along the way. Bueckers also scored 35 points in the team’s first visit to Phoenix on June 11, though the Wings fell in that one, 93-80. She scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds and gave out seven assists in the regular season finale.

Are you noticing a theme here? Bueckers does things that haven’t been done since Tungsten Arm O’Doyle, but the Wings lose in a laugher, 95-70. Dallas has a nice little youth movement going with Bueckers and fellow rookie guard Aziaha James, but who else will the team protect in the upcoming expansion draft? Or own Jack Bonin has some thoughts on that, here.

Now comes the part where Dallas General Manager Curt Miller and his hand-picked head coach Chris Koclanes need to build around Bueckers’ individual brilliance is not wasted on a team that has gone a combined 19-65 the last two seasons. The Wings are once again frontrunners for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, and it will be nothing other than an abject failure on their part if the team is still circling the WNBA drain at this time next year. One big hurdle will be an impending work stoppage if the WNBA Players’ Association and the team owners can’t agree on a new collective bargaining agreement after the players opted out of the current deal last year.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dallas-wings/50172/paige-bueckers-wins-wnba-rookie-of-the-year

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: Howling with the (Timber)Wolves

When you employ a superstar on your roster, it puts pressure on the team and front office to perform around that star to maximize their abilities. The Minnesota Timberwolves have managed to put two different teams around Anthony Edwards the last two years, and both were good enough to make the West Finals. Granted, they lost both times in five games (the Mavs series was much closer than we’d like to admit, though), but they still have been one of the last four teams standing the last two seasons.

What is it going to take for this team to get over the hump? Edwards has already started to evolve, as he was the league’s most prolific three-point shooter last season. That came out of necessity, as the Wolves reshuffled the roster just days before the start of the season when they swapped Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte Divincenzo. Gobert isn’t getting any younger, nor is Mike Conley. How ready is Rob Dillingham? Is Terrance Shannon Jr. ready for the full-time role they need him to fill? There’s plenty of questions to be answered, but the Wolves feel like they’ve got the answers already in the building.

---

Minnesota Timberwolves: Over/Under 49.5 wins (-102/-120)​

Last year: 49-33​

Additions: Joan Beringer (17th pick)​

Losses: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta)​

The Wolves roster did not see much turnover because all of the money they spent was used in resigning Naz Reid and Julius Randle. The only guy they couldn’t afford was Alexander-Walker, who I personally would’ve preferred over Randle.

This team remains well coached, as Chris Finch is a top five to ten coach in the NBA. The bench, even without NAW, is still a strength with guys like Naz Reid, DiVincenzo, Shannon Jr., and Jaylen Clark. Joan Beringer might not be ready this year, but the young Frenchman should be a starter at some point if he develops into the guy they think he can be. I wonder about the ball handling and the spacing, but I believe in Edwards and the coaching staff enough to still think they’ll be in the hunt down the stretch. Just maybe not the top of the conference.

Prediction: Just under 49.5 wins – but they win at least one playoff series​

Odds provided by the Fanduel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Wager responsibly!​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...on-preview-fanduel-sportsbook-anthony-edwards

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: The Portland Trailblazers are between timelines

Portland is in limbo after winning 36 games last season. They have some young talent, but traded away guard Anfernee Simons for veteran leadership in Jrue Holiday. It is clear that they want to try to win this season, but it is unclear why. The roster is not good enough to compete in the West, but it is not bad enough to be in contention for the number one pick. Although, as Mavericks fans know, you just need to be in the lottery to have a chance.

They have not won 40 games since 2021. Chauncey Billups has not won more than 36 as head coach. The outlook for the Trailblazers this upcoming season is hard to assess because of this. You expect them to make some sort of jump, but it is hard to tell if that will lead to any additional wins. Deni Avdija may be on the best contract in the league, but they have not put enough around him to make a strong case for them to be this year’s surprise playoff hopeful. It will truly be a “just have fun out there” season in the Pacific Northwest.

Portland Trailblazers: Over/Under 34.5 (-102/-120)​

Last Season: 36-46​

Additions: Jrue Holiday, Yang Hansen, Damian Lillard (in spirit)​

Losses: Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons​

The Blazers, for better or for worse, are trying to win. They have a lot of weird pieces, a Scoot Henderson problem, and a coach who has not proven much in his tenure. Despite all of this, their win total is too low for a team that won 36 games last season. You could argue that losing Ayton actually helped this team, and Yang Hansen is an exciting player to eventually step into that role, along with Donovan Clingan. They just need Henderson to be better than really bad, and I think that 35 wins is in the cards yet again.

Prediction: Over 34.5 wins (-102)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...2025-26-nba-season-preview-fanduel-sportsbook

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks murky trajectory clear in ESPN NBA Future Rankings

Nothing more reflects the roller coaster of the last seven months surrounding the Dallas Mavericks, than the murkiness of the team’s future as predicted by media. ESPN’s annual NBA Future Rankings tasks media members to rate various aspects of an organization to project the success of a team over the next three years. This year, the Mavericks rank 16th among the league of 30.

After ranking fifth last summer, a summer that followed an NBA Finals appearance, the precipitous fall is without much mystery. No team, save for the Los Angeles Clippers the last three weeks, have had more turmoil in the calendar year. The combination of trading Luka Doncic followed by a series of injuries to the leaders of the team, gave little to hang a future hat on. And yet their miraculous draft luck does provide a brighter future.

ESPN looks at five categories to rank teams: Players, Money, Draft, Market, Management. And where the Mavericks land in each bucket really sheds light on where the questions lie.

• Players: 11th
• Money: 24th
• Draft: 21st
• Market: 10th
• Management: 20th

When healthy, the Mavericks do have a solid roster that might be heavy in a position or two and light in a few glaring weaknesses. But overall, they have the pieces to be somewhat successful. But the “when healthy” qualifier could never be louder. Still, with core pieces like PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford already signed to extensions, and depth pieces like Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall, and Max Christie all under multi-year deals, building around Cooper Flagg is a sturdy path.

Where there is no stability is in the money, draft, and management of this team. They are hard-capped, with little draft capital to leverage, with an erratic front office and ownership team that not only are unpredictable but also feel out-of-touch with their fan base. The drafting of Cooper Flagg saved them in a million ways, but it does not solve every problem. They were given a life raft, but still need someone to steer them back home. Until Nico Harrison, Patrick Dumont, and the remaining decision makers prove they can steady things and navigate out of the financial and emotional predicament they’ve put themselves in, the future of the team will remain in question.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...rajectory-espn-nba-future-rankings-luka-flagg

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Wemby had a tryout to gather the craziest fans. The Dallas Mavericks should follow suit

I just came home from the EuroBasket Finals in Riga, Latvia. The basketball was incredible, the venue great and people friendly, but the thing that made the biggest impression on me?

The fans.

We are talking about national teams here, the lifeblood of many nations and the glue of national identities across Europe – so we can’t quite compare this experience to the NBA.

But that won’t stop me from trying. Or at least take inspiration.

Because what I saw in that arena was not only inspirational, it was touching. First in the very entertaining Greece versus Finland bronze game, which went down to the last second and left Giannis Antetukuompo in tears, and then in the final, where Türkiye lost control of the game and Germany’s experience triumphed to the shock of the extremely loud Türkiye fans.

In the first game, Greek fans were so loud that I couldn’t talk to my seatmate. They were singing to each other and trying to drown out the Finnish fans, who had shown up in large numbers too. Both countries in blue and white, but very much representing the North and South of Europe.

pic.twitter.com/JpEaiyL4gM

— Mette L. Robertson (@M_Robertson100) September 14, 2025

Later, Türkiye fans colored the arena red and white, booed and whistled louder than they cheered, which they did extremely loudly too. Flags were waved from all over the arena, and the German fans could barely get a word in, or a chant, if you will. It was a beautiful experience, even for the losing teams and their fans.

This is nuts, you can’t talk for whistles when Germany has the ball

I suspected a lot when I saw how many fans were outside but this is crazy. Like in Türkiye as the Estonian next to me said pic.twitter.com/rbZVtIyDHJ

— Mette L. Robertson (@M_Robertson100) September 14, 2025

The playoff experience in the NBA is similar, you may counter – but the answer is not quite. EuroBasket is personal, not business, to players and fans. That means a passion and emotion we don’t see in the NBA (outside of things like the Luka trade situation, perhaps).

But that doesn’t mean NBA teams can’t try to replicate the best of this culture.

That seems to be exactly what San Antonio French sensation Victor Wembanyama has been thinking. Earlier this month, he sent out a call to arms of sorts for San Antonio Spurs fans:

“We’re creating a new supporter section in the Frost Bank Center. And hopefully we can gather the craziest and the loudest fans in the whole community. Hopefully this gives them the chance to express how much they’re into it and also give us that extra edge and help us win games at home.

This is why we need the craziest fans to show up September fourteenth for a tryout,” he said in the video shared on social media.

You think you’ve got what it takes to bring the energy ?! ⁦@spurs⁩ fans this is your shot to be part of something special ! Tryouts for OUR new fan section Sunday September 14, registration from 7-9am at Frost Bank Center. pic.twitter.com/yetgxdVfpa

— Wemby (@wemby) September 9, 2025

Wemby apparently took inspiration from the fan culture of his hometown football (soccer) team PSG (Paris Saint-Germain), which is similar to many European basketball clubs in culture when it comes to huge supporter sections. There’s Greek team Olympiacos, whose fans sold out the tickets for the derby against Panathinaikos which will take place next March, 2026 – in less than 24 hours. Panathinaikos is the club, which, by the way, Luka Doncic famously called the loudest and most hostile atmosphere he’s ever played in. And then there’s the Serbian teams Crvena Zvezda and Partizan, with famously passionate support culture, among many more.

Crvena Zvezda – Partizan Belgrade

EuroLeague derby of Belgrade

pic.twitter.com/13UUAMODeZ

— Matteo Andreani (@matty_vanpersie) November 21, 2024

These are just some of the places with longstanding traditions and ways of facilitating a passionate fan culture and specific fan sections in their arenas that NBA teams could take inspiration from.

In an exhilarating way for a European, Wemby’s call to arms is bringing the future to the NBA. There’s no need or reason to hold on to a culture of calm mild-mannered fans, where watching a sports game can be akin to going to the movies.

In creating a special section for the loudest, most dedicated fans, perhaps at a lower price, you make an investment that will pay itself off in multiple ways. For NBA teams, there’s actually a huge potential here to sell more tickets when passionate fans are setting the mood, and to create more dedicated fans along the way. Plus, may I add, perhaps creating some goodwill in the community (Dallas Mavericks, I’m looking at you).

The future of basketball fan culture in the NBA is here, and just like on the basketball court, Wemby is a torchbearer.

It is not a matter of if this happens or if it will work in the NBA and American culture, it is a matter of when. So NBA teams should probably get going right about now, if they want to reap the benefits of this new lucrative and potentially very profitable idea. Intangible assets, like goodwill, loyalty, passion and dedication, can be extremely valuable to any brand. And here’s the chance to be a first-mover.

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...-fans-the-dallas-mavericks-should-follow-suit

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: The Denver Nuggets are primed for a run

Championship teams do not go quietly into the night. Although there has been notable slippage in Denver since the Nuggets won the NBA Finals in 2023, Championship DNA is hard to get rid of. The Nuggets were up by 12 in OKC against the Thunder in Game 5 looking to go up 3-2 in that series. Maybe Nuggets teams from the past couple years finish that game and series off. Those Nuggets could not, leading to an offseason that saw major changes.

When you have the best player on the planet, there’s pressure to get it all right to maximize your window. The Nuggets clearly have that in Nikola Jokic. For the most part, the Jokic and Jamal Murray two-man game still remains elite. However, a lack of shooting and the continuous issue of finding a reliable center to back up Joker remained fatal flaws and have knocked Denver out of two consecutive series’. Did they do enough to fix it, and even if they did, is it enough to overcome a loaded Western Conference?

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Denver Nuggets: Over/Under 53.5 wins (-110/-110)​

Last season: 50-32​

Additions: Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas​

Losses: Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn)​

In swinging Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson, the Nuggets unlocked some extra flexibility for them to add Brown, THJ and Valanciunas (after some consternation). There is no doubt that Denver has upgraded their shooting around Jokic, and at a reasonable cost.

Frankly, I don’t think the Nuggets are getting enough respect heading into the season. There wouldn’t be another team that I would choose to give the Thunder a run for their money, as they already did that last year and are now better. The health of Murray and do it all guy Aaron Gordon is definitely a concern, but this is the team I would pick right now to win the NBA Finals.

Prediction: Over 53.5 wins​

Odds provided by the Fanduel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Wager Responsibly!​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...eason-preview-fanduel-sportsbook-nikola-jokic

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks bringing back Dennis Smith Jr. on 1 year deal

The Dallas Mavericks have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with high-flying scorer Dennis Smith Jr., who scored 15.2 points per game for the Mavs in his rookie season, back in 2017-18.

ESPN’s Shams Charania (who else) was the first to report the news on Thursday evening, after hearing from Smith Jr.’s agent, Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management. Terms of the deal, other than it being one year in length, were not immediately available.

Smith Jr. was named to the 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie Team after scoring 15.2 points and dishing 5.2 assists per game after being selected by Dallas with the ninth overall pick of the 2017 Draft. He spent a year and a half with the Mavericks before being traded to the New York Knicks in the deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to town in January 2019.

His tenure with the Knicks never materialized into the kind of NBA stardom he seemed destined for in his first couple of seasons. A slipped disc in his back was a huge setback at the time, and at one point he was booed by the home crowd at Madison Square Garden, who apparently preferred to watch Frank Ntilikina, who Mavs fans are also somewhat familiar with. Smith Jr.’s stepmother died around that time, and the ensuing crisis of confidence followed him for years afterward.

Smith Jr. played for three different teams (the Portland Trailblazers, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets) in three consecutive seasons from 2021 through 2024, when he really improved defensively, even ranking second in steals per 36 minutes among NBA players to play 1,000 minutes in that time. He spent last season in the EuroLeague, playing for Real Madrid.

Guard Dennis Smith Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Dallas Mavericks, agent Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management tells ESPN. Smith reunites with the franchise that drafted him No. 9 overall in 2017 and now he'll compete in training camp in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/1KseWO0bPM

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 18, 2025

Charania characterized the signing as an opportunity for Smith Jr. to “compete in training camp in Dallas.” There is already speculation that the 15th and final roster spot could come down to a battle between DSJ or Brandon Williams, who, though undersized, impressed coaches and fans when forced into heavy minutes last year after injuries ravaged the Mavericks’ roster toward the end of the season.

He signed a partially guaranteed one-year deal this offseason, in a deal where Williams’ salary protection increases from $200,000 to $850,000 if he is on the roster for the Mavericks’ first game. Williams averaged 16.6 points and 4.5 assists per game over 11 games in March. Dallas will hold its training camp in Vancouver, of all places, from September 30 through October 4.

If the Mavs do end up reuniting with Dennis Smith Jr., this is what they’ll be getting on the defensive end. DSJ has worked tirelessly over the last several years to become of the peskiest defenders in the league. pic.twitter.com/SdJ964afGO

— Dalton Trigg (@dalton_trigg) July 3, 2024

The Mavs also re-signed Dante Exum on a one-year deal in July, but DSJ could be considered a little bit of an insurance policy against Exum’s own lengthy injury history.

With Kyrie Irving on the shelf, definitely to begin the season and probably for most of the year, the Mavericks are throwing the kitchen sink at the guard position in hopes of finding someone capable of bridging the gap until the 33-year-old superstar comes back from surgery to repair the torn ACL he suffered during a March 3 game against the Sacramento Kings.

D’Angelo Russell is likely to get first crack at the starting point guard position after agreeing to a two-year deal with the Mavs early in free agency this offseason. Rookie and two-way signee Ryan Nembhard out of Gonzaga might also be in the mix for backup in the ball-handling department with Smith Jr., Exum and Williams as well.

Smith, who is still just 27, has averaged 9.7 points, 4.2 assists and just over three rebounds per game in 326 games over seven NBA seasons.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...-bringing-back-dennis-smith-jr-on-1-year-deal

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: Who is going to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off their first championship in franchise history. They have lost no one and added some rookie talent with their arsenal of current and future draft picks. They are a unicorn; no team in the modern NBA has won a championship with two of their top three scorers on their rookie contracts. It is unprecedented how good and young the Thunder are, and especially important in the current CBA.

The league is going to be very bleak next season. The Eastern Conference is as hurt and weak as it has been, and the West outside of Oklahoma City is a complete toss-up. Returning everyone from the championship team a season ago, the Thunder have the chance to go back-to-back with little resistance. Denver played them as close as anyone in the playoffs, so maybe they can get over the hump with their retooled roster. But as of now, it is the Thunder’s championship to lose.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Over/Under 62.5 Wins (-110/-110)​

Last Season: 68-14​

Additions: Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber​

Losses: N/A​

At nearly 2/1, they are the prohibitive favorites to repeat as champions. The Nuggets, as mentioned earlier, are the next likeliest team out west, but sit far behind at 9/1. Oklahoma City is the measuring stick. Given proper health (which is never guaranteed), they should run through the league again in the regular season. Even if they miss time from key guys, they have the depth to deal with it in spurts. Chet Holmgren missed 49 games a season ago, and they still won nearly 70 games! This will be another frustrating season for any team that has to play Oklahoma City, and it is hard to see how they do not continue their domination.

Prediction: Over 62.5 wins (-110)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ason-preview-fanduel-sportsbook-sga-champions

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Anthony Davis is back on the court following offseason surgery

Last season was both tumultuous and disappointing for the Dallas Mavericks. Describing last year’s campaign as “injury plagued” is a massive understatement, as Dallas came dangerously close to forfeiting games due to a lack of available players on more than one occasion. With summer rolling in, Dallas finally had an opportunity to go more than a few days without hearing another injury report. Then the calendar turned to July and ESPN’s Shams Charania kept the unfortunate trend alive by breaking the news that Anthony Davis had undergone surgery.

Dallas Mavericks All-Star Anthony Davis underwent a procedure to repair a detached retina that he suffered during the season, sources tell ESPN. Davis played through multiple hits to the face last year. He is expected to be healthy for next training camp. pic.twitter.com/Yz8vxBlp06

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 8, 2025

Davis was the recipient of multiple shots to the face over the course of last season, which though seemingly innocuous enough at the time, ultimately resulted in a detached retina. As a testament to his toughness, Davis played through the injury, but it was only a matter of time before it needed to be properly addressed. Unsurprisingly, this was groan-worthy to a fanbase already exhausted by a litany of injury news for months on end.

Davis is no stranger to injuries, so it was natural to fear the worst regarding his availability to kick off the 2025-26 season. Now though, a report from Marc Stein may give Dallas hope that their injury luck is finally changing. Stein reported that Davis is not only back on the court, but participating in 5-on-5 play.

Mavericks All-Star big man Anthony Davis returned to the practice floor this week for some 5-on-5 play, @TheSteinLine has learned.

It’s believed to be Davis’ first game-speed action since it emerged in July that he needed eye surgery to mend a detached retina.

: @DLLS_Sports pic.twitter.com/6Nzknkujrm

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 20, 2025

With Kyrie Irving on the shelf until at least January, Davis is the Mavs’ best player and the last thing they need is to tip-off the season with him spectating. Having the surgery in early July appears to have afforded the opportunity to get some offseason rest while still being able to spool up his on-court activity leading into training camp. D’Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson are already building their chemistry together and having Davis join his teammates is a positive sign. Leaving nearly 25 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists on the bench is simply not an option for the Mavericks who will need all the firepower they can get until Irving returns.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...back-on-the-court-following-offseason-surgery

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: The Los Angeles Clippers are Aspiring for more

Well, what an offseason it turned out to be for the Los Angeles Clippers. The focus of the summer wasn’t on the additions to the team, which will be very interesting to see. No, in fact the story of the Clippers offseason really isn’t even a story about the basketball they’ve put on the court in the last few years.

The Clippers have been under league investigation for the last month or so due to the outstanding reporting of Pablo Torre and his team at Pablo Torre Finds Out. The long and the short of it is that the Clippers may have been illegally circumventing the salary cap through a company called “Aspiration”. Dallas Mavericks season ticket holder Mark Cuban went on Torre’s podcast to try and disprove the allegations, but the reality was not what he had envisioned.

For the full story, I can’t recommend his podcast enough. But you came here for the basketball preview, so without further adieu, it’s time to dive in.

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Los Angeles Clippers: Over/Under 47.5 wins (-104/-118)​

Last season: 50-32​

Additions: Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, John Collins, Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th pick)​

Losses: Norm Powell (Heat)​

The disappointing thing about the scandal that has engulfed this franchise is that I really like what they did this offseason. Losing Norm stinks, but being able to add in Chris Paul and Brad Beal to bolster that backcourt is really strong work. The Clips should also have quality depth behind Ivica Zubac with the additions of Lopez, Collins and Niederhauser. As always, the availability of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden will determine where this team goes. Beyond that, how big of a cloud is this NBA investigation, and what are the repercussions of it? It shouldn’t be an issue for this year, but it does set up a “last best chance” type of situation.

Prediction: Over 47.5 wins​

Odds provided by the Fanduel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Wager responsibly!​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...review-aspiration-kawhi-leonard-steve-ballmer

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Russell thinks he, Thompson will be a dynamic duo

D’Angelo Russell is officially a member of the Dallas Mavericks, having joined the team on a two-year deal in the early days of Free Agency this past June. Coming off a relatively down year where he split time between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, Russell is poised to get back to form when he takes the court with the Mavericks in a few weeks.

Russell will begin the season as the starting point guard, with his hold on the job likely to go unchallenged until Kyrie Irving returns from injury. Even the most optimistic trajectory for that eventuality gives DLo a solid three month window to run the show in Big D. While there may be some questions about Russell’s efficacy if you glance at his stat line from last year, there are reasons to believe he will be at his best when the regular season tips off. Namely, Dallas believes they are in “win now” mode, which is a significant difference from the Brooklyn team Russell played for to finish last season. He is also in a contract year for all intents and purposes, having a player option in the second year of his deal; he has every incentive to outperform his contract, opt out in year two and then cash in a bigger deal.

His new teammates have his back as well. At the time of his signing, it was reported that he had the ringing endorsement of multiple players, including Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson. It has now come to light that Russell is as excited to play with his new teammates as they are to play with him. DLo recently featured on The Backyard Pod and the folks at MFFL Nation excerpted a portion of his visit that shows just how amped he is to show what he can bring (note: explicit language features in the embedded video).

D’Angelo Russell talks about how excited he is to play with Coop, AD, Max, Naji and Klay…

Sounds like the DLO and Klay chemistry will be very special

(via @The_BackyardPod) pic.twitter.com/l1j48YgxVz

— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) September 18, 2025

Of particular note is Russell’s strong desire to team up with Klay Thompson. The two are former teammates from their time in Golden State but never actually shared the court due to Thompson being injured. That is all just weeks away from changing.

DLo is expecting to feed Thompson a steady diet in what he expects to be a perfect pairing. Recounting pick-up games the two have played during the offseason, Russell describes scenarios where he is finding Thompson open before Thompson even realizes it himself! When Thompson arrived in Dallas, the fanbase largely expected him to get the best looks of his career by way of Luka Doncic’s passing prowess. We previously analyzed that and did not find any preponderance of evidence that Thompson benefited greatly. Is it therefore reasonable to expect Thompson will benefit from Russell’s orchestrating skills? DLo seems to think so.

If he is correct and the two players are working out the kinks prior to even reporting to training camp, it bodes well for Dallas. While Russell’s comments have shades of “Monta Ellis have it all” they should nonetheless be enough to get Mavs fans excited to wash away the stains of last season and get ready for what is to come, whatever it may be. If nothing else, fans can at least appreciate their starting point guard being amped for what the team can achieve.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...sell-thinks-he-thompson-will-be-a-dynamic-duo

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Podcast: Cooper Flagg meets Dirk Nowitzki and Anthony Davis injury concerns

This week’s show is short, with Josh and I connecting real quick, then wrapping up the show in right around 30 minutes. With my proclivity to talk when there’s nothing to say, everyone should be thrilled.

The first half of the show centers around Cooper Flagg getting to meet and talk to Dirk Nowitzki at the latter’s tennis event which raises money for his foundation. If you missed Matt’s write up of that, check it out here. After that, we talk about this interview done with Flagg’s trainer. It’s a long interview, which means plenty to read into, but we have fun talking about the elements which will apply to the season ahead.

We record a postgame show after every Dallas game live on YouTube! Click and subscribe!

After the break, we end on a discussion about Anthony Davis’s injury recovery. Marc Stein’s mentioned in both podcasts and articles that Davis isn’t doing anything basketball related since his surgery for the detached retina. That was announced (and that’s important to understand) on July 8th. But the initial report from Shams Charania has no details on when the injury happened or when the surgery happened. As a result, we have no clear idea about the timetable for return. Josh takes one position on why this could be a disaster. I stake out another more positive position about the potential silver lining if Davis were to miss time

You can listen to our latest podcast episode in the player embedded below, and to make sure you don’t miss a single one moving forward, subscribe to the Pod Maverick podcast feed on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, Pocketcasts, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox.

You can check out our After Dark Recap podcasts, YouTube Live recordings, and guest shows on the Pod Maverick Podcast feed. Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/pod-m...rk-nowitzki-and-anthony-davis-injury-concerns

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Cooper Flagg joins Washington, Lively in ESPN Top 100 Players Ranking

Could the Dallas Mavericks have five of the top 100 players in the NBA this season? The fine people at ESPN think so. Every season, ESPN runs a top 100 players in the league list before the season. In the first edition of the list, featuring players 51-100, the Mavs landed three guys in this list.

You can find the full list here.​

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95. PJ Washington​

PJ Washington checked in at number 95 on this list after being unranked in the final edition of this ranking last season. Washington, who signed a four-year, $90 million contract this offseason, might not even be a starter on this team to start the year, depending on how coach Jason Kidd decides to handle he and Klay Thompson’s roles. Last year, PJ struggled to overcome several ankle injuries, and knowing what we now know about last year’s training staff, it’s not hard to connect the dots with how that affected him. With a clean offseason and a (hopefully) competent training staff in place, it’s fair to expect big things from Washington this year, regardless of whether or not he starts.

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73. Dereck Lively II​

Dereck Lively remains on the list at number 73, although he slipped from his 56th spot on the list last year. Last year was a decided sophomore slump for the Duke product, who played just 36 games due to an injury that, once again, last year’s training staff botched (sensing a theme here?). The big man had offseason surgery to clean that up, even though the general manager who will not be named said he would not need a procedure. Lively’s talent is undeniable, both with and without Luka Doncic, Lively has been able to produce. The question is whether he can stay on the court. In his two seasons in the NBA, Lively has only played in 55% of the team’s regular season games. For him to live up to this ranking, he’s got to be on the floor.

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52. Cooper Flagg​

Finally, the only rookie on this list checks in at a shockingly high 52nd place, and it would be none other than Cooper Flagg. The 18-year-old is going to be challenged right away, as it sure seems like the Mavericks are going to push to have the ball in Flagg’s hands early and often. The experiment is drawing comparisons to what Kidd did with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, trying to force the player into uncomfortable situations by having him on ball. The only difference is that those Milwaukee teams did not have expectations and therefore could afford to struggle amid those growing pains. This Mavericks team is in a self-proclaimed three-year championship window, and they already wasted year one of it. If there’s no success this year, it’s no guarantee that they’re all here to see the next one.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...ington-lively-in-espn-top-100-players-ranking

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Podcast: Welcome back, Dennis Smith Jr., Anthony Davis is playing again, and preseason games!

Podcasting about the Dallas Mavericks gets harder the further we are in the offseason. One would think with training camp right around the corner, that wouldn’t be the case, but for Josh and myself it is!

We lead the show talking about the Mavericks acquiring Dennis Smith Jr. to a non-guaranteed deal. The Dallas Mavericks have a full roster, so this strikes me as a training camp-only deal with a chance for the Texas Legends to sign him. Josh and I talk about his previous stint with the Mavericks and try to guess what it would take for him to actually end up on the Mavericks this season. It seems like a longshot, but it’s a fun story to track for a former Maverick that most fans seem to root for.

Before going to break, we also talk about the injury to Fred VanVleet and what his injury means for the Western Conference. We also explain why the Mavericks and Rockets can’t make a trade right now.

We record a postgame show after every Dallas game live on YouTube! Click and subscribe!

After the break, we talk about the report from Marc Stein that Anthony Davis is finally playing five-on-five after his eye surgery this summer. We’ll learn more in the coming days and weeks about his physical readiness to start the season. We end with a note about the four preseason games, when they are, what to expect, and so forth. The Mavericks play only one true home game in the American Airline Center. The other two “home” games are in Fort Worth and Las Vegas.

You can listen to our latest podcast episode in the player embedded below, and to make sure you don’t miss a single one moving forward, subscribe to the Pod Maverick podcast feed on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, Pocketcasts, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox.

You can check out our After Dark Recap podcasts, YouTube Live recordings, and guest shows on the Pod Maverick Podcast feed. Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/pod-m...ny-davis-is-playing-again-and-preseason-games

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: There is addition by subtraction for the Phoenix Suns

Two of the more notable roster construction failures of the last five years had a common denominator: Kevin Durant. The most recent one ended with Durant getting traded to Houston from Phoenix this offseason. With limited playoff success to show for it and many young assets and picks being traded away, the Suns have had a frustrating few years. After all, they were two wins from an NBA championship in 2021 and won 64 games in 2022 before trading for Durant.

Phoenix is looking for anything after missing the playoffs this past season. They took a very talented big man from Duke in the first round and traded for dynamic scorer Jalen Green to help recoup some talent after their failed experiment. The expectations for the Suns are much lower than years past, but the talent level may be a bit higher than even majority owner Mat Ishbia thinks.

Phoenix Suns: Over/Under 32.5 Wins (+100/-122)​

Last Season: 36-46​

Additions: Khaman Maluach, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks​

Losses: Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal​

Phoenix is in line to surprise a lot of teams. Losing Durant obviously won’t help, but Bradley Beal was a cancer and letting him go will open up a lot of opportunity for Devin Booker and Green. Brooks and Maluach bring a defensive intensity that they have lacked in recent years. They have a lot of interesting pieces that won’t necessarily make them a contender, or even a certified playoff team, but they have enough to make them a frisky 35 to 37 win team.

Prediction: Over 32.5 wins (+100)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...-suns-2025-26-nba-season-preview-devin-booker

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: Deja Vu in Sacramento, the Kings are stuck in purgatory

The Sacramento Kings seem a world away from the beam lighters of years past. They dealt their star point guard De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio for Zach LaVine, which reunited LaVine with his former running mate DeMar DeRozan. They also fired their coach Mike Brown after a 13-18 start last season, and promoted interim coach Doug Christie to full-time head coach in May.

There is a lot different in Sacramento but somehow, it feels the same. They have recreated the 2023 Bulls in record time, down to the older guard (Goran Dragic, Dennis Schroder) and foreign center (Nikola Vucevic, Domantas Sabonis). That team won 40 games, and it is hard to see this Sacramento team doing anything but that. Like Chicago, they have assembled a perfect team to sell tickets but not one good enough to be taken seriously in the playoffs. The play-in seems like destiny once again for this team that is infatuated with being competent enough.

Sacramento Kings: Over/Under 34.5 Wins (-110/-110)​

Last Season: 40-42​

Additions: Maxime Reynaud, Dennis Schroder​

Losses: Jonas Valenciunas​

Despite having a roster that does not inspire post-season success, they have the two guys you want if you’re trying to win 40 games. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine won 46, 40, and 39 games in their three full seasons in Chicago together, and the Kings finished at 40 wins after dealing for the duo last year. This is an easy bet, 34.5 wins is too low of a mark for a team that has enough talent to be competitive on any night. Christie went 27-24 with a similar roster last season, which is a 43-win pace.

Prediction: Over 34.5 wins (-110)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...-nba-season-preview-zach-lavine-demar-derozan