News Mavericks Team Notes

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavs vet Dwight Powell likes what he’s seeing: “That’s the beauty of a team like ours”

Dwight Powell, backup center and by far the longest tenured Dallas Maverick, has become quite the culture and chemistry guy for this team going into his 12th season in Dallas.

Last May, then Maverick Spencer Dinwiddie, who went to the Charlotte Hornets this summer, called Powell a “standout voice in the locker room” through adversity. This was back when injuries plagued the team and the noise surrounding the organization after the Luka trade was deafening.

This preseason, Dwight Powell seems to be committed to continue being that voice in the locker room, emphasizing himself what is key on a winning team:

“I think that culture is super important and you can already see it in the locker room and in practice. Guys are competing,” Powell said, according to Mavs.com.

The Dallas Mavericks roster is both talented and deep on many positions this season, but talent doesn’t equate to winning in itself, as Powell points out. It takes more than that:

“It’s one thing to be talented. But you got to have that competitive edge and want to compete on every possession. Our ability so far to be able to do that in practice is a great sign for what’s to come in the season ahead.”

And he also likes what he’s seeing when it comes to creating chemistry already with this group, even before the season has started:

“Everybody’s involved. The biggest part about chemistry is that everybody has to understand that you have a role to play, but being competitive and bringing energy is something everybody’s got to do. And so far, the group has done a great job of that.”

It looks like Dwight Powell has taken the lead on bringing that energy to the locker room and the court. Coach Jason Kidd made a point of praising the energy Powell brought in Dallas’ first preseason game against Oklahoma City Thunder:

“I just loved his energy. His energy was contagious. We talked about the energy staying high for 48 minutes and I thought the group did that. And DP was really good.”

“I try my best,” Powell said, according to Mavs.com. “Try my best to help any way I can, be a spark where I can and lead where I can. And find ways to help us be successful. That role’s going to change throughout the year. You just got to be ready for the opportunities.”

As the team will be forced to adapt to injuries, opponents and perhaps trades throughout the season, Powell is well-aware of how everyone’s roles, and specifically his own, may be changing:

“That’s the beauty of a team like ours. We’re going to continue to improve, continue to evolve and learn each other’s games, learn how we’re going to build this chemistry over the course of the season. So, if we’re all pointed toward winning, everything will fall in place as it should.”

And Dwight Powell knows more than most what it takes to work through and overcome adversity. This is what he said back in 2020, just after rupturing his achilles tendon. An injury that would keep him off the court for more than a year:

“One of the things I learned early on, before I even went to college was that the moment you think you’ve made it is when you start to fall off. As long as you’re striving to get to the next step and finding ways to get better physically and mentally or whatever it may be to help the team win, that’s always been my focus.”

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...s-seeing-thats-the-beauty-of-a-team-like-ours

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: Heat culture will be on full display in Miami

The Heat are a world away from the team that made the NBA Finals just three seasons ago. Their 2025 was defined by disappointment and reality, as they came to terms with the fact that Jimmy Butler no longer was the engine that could drive them to playoff success. Last year was the first season since 2021 where Miami didn’t win a single playoff game.

Without Butler, their focus turns to younger guys like Tyler Herro (who is hurt), Jaime Jaquez, and first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis, with veteran scoring from Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins attempting to make something out of a strange roster. Bam Adebayo has anchored a good defense every year he has been in Miami, and his presence should add stability to a lot of moving pieces. With the East being so weak this upcoming season, Miami is probably telling themselves that they can find a way to sneak into the playoffs with a chance to win a series.

Miami Heat: Over/Under 38.5 Wins (-106/-114)​

Last Season: 37-45​

Additions: Kasparas Jakucionis, Precious Achiuwa, Norman Powell​

Losses: Haywood Highsmith​

It will probably be better for the Heat’s functionality with Jimmy Butler gone this year. He was a dark cloud over the team, at least from a media perspective, for the entirety of the season before he got traded. They finished last season 10-4 (including the play-in), before getting swept by Cleveland in the first round. That is something to build on. Erik Spoelstra is great coach, Kel’el Ware has shown flashes of insanity, and a Herro/Powell backcourt should be as explosive as anyone. They won 37 games amidst all of the distractions in 2025, and I think 40 to 42 wins is possible in 2026. If there is any year where “Heat culture” will rear its head, this is the one.

Prediction: Over 38.5 wins (-106)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...26-nba-season-preview-tyler-herro-bam-adebayo

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Can Dante Exum stay on the court for the Mavericks?

It’s hard to give Dante Exum’s time in Dallas a grade. As has become the theme with the Dallas Mavericks, when he’s been on the court, he’s been good. But the problem has been him being on the court.

When the Mavericks took a flyer on Exum in the 2023 offseason and signed the number five overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, he had a growing history of injuries. Those injuries included a torn ACL in 2015, shoulder surgery in 2017, and a torn patellar tendon in 2019.

Exum played oversees for two seasons before signing his deal with the Mavs in 2023. Exum was a good player, but he came with risk.

The Good​

Exum has averaged career highs with the Mavs in points (8.0), assists (2.8), and rebounds (2.4) in his two seasons on 19.5 minutes per game. His shooting has been incredibly efficient on 52% from the floor, 47% from three, and 77% from the free throw line. He’s a versatile defender who can also be the point guard off the bench to lead the second unit.

Jason Kidd has tested him in a variety of small roles, and Exum has passed in most of them. When he’s healthy, he’s an ideal player teams want to give their bench some a balanced mix of scoring, defending, and leadership. Wherever you put him, he’ll thrive.

The Bad​

The main undertone of Exum’s career has been his inability to stay on the floor. His time in Dallas has been (unfortunately) similar to his previous stints in the NBA. Since joining the Mavs, Exum has suffered a right heel contusion (2023), right foot sprain (2024), underwent wrist surgery (2024) Achilles strain (2025), and broken left hand (2025). The Mavericks need guards and need them healthy. The risk-reward of signing Exum has swayed closer to the risk side. He’s played a total of just 75 games in his two seasons in Dallas.

However, the Mavericks’ front office recognized Dallas’s dire need for creative guards and decided to waive former 2023 pick Olivier Maxence-Prosper, in order to re-sign Exum to a one-year deal. The Mavs are loaded in the frontcourt, so waiving Maxence-Prosper isn’t the end of the world, but it shows the loyalty and belief the Mavs front office has in Exum.

Best Case Scenario​

Well, this one is easy. A best-case scenario has Exum stay healthy. It’s hard to put a number on games played, but somewhere in the range of 60 games (about 75%) would be a win for the Mavs. Exum can lead the bench unit, give the Mavs a good number of double-digit scoring nights, while being the facilitator to help the Mavs second string offense flow. Defense should be a strong point for Dallas even without him, but having Exum certainly helps. A perfect world also has Exum still playing good defense, using his quickness to his advantage, and providing energy when Dallas needs it.

Worst Case Scenario​

Exum deals with a plethora of injuries again and doesn’t see the floor much. Because of this, even when he plays, he’s inconsistent due to the lack of chemistry with the new players around him. Exum falls out of the rotation and Dallas leans heavily on Brandon Williams and possibly Dennis Smith Jr. This scenario would be Exum’s last year in Dallas.

Season Goal​

Exum just needs to be on the court. If he is, the Mavericks are objectively a better team. His presence is enough to make the difference between a play-in and playoff team by season’s end.

Overall​

There is only one big question mark with Dante Exum and that’s his health. A healthy Dante Exum is a key piece to Dallas’s success, especially without Kyrie Irving. Dallas has enough big men, wings, and defense. They need more depth in guys who can create their own shot and facilitate the offense, and Dante Exum can do both.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dallas-mavericks-player-previews/50899/player-preview-dante-exum

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Cooper Flagg and New Balance unveil first design ahead of NBA debut

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has plenty to look forward to in the next week. With anticipation that has built for the last 18-plus months, the former Duke Blue Devil will be making his NBA debut at home on October 22 against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs to kick-off the Mavericks’ regular season. Paired with that is the launch of the Cooper Flagg x New Balance Hesi Low V2, his first PE shoe in his partnership with the brand.

FIRST LOOK: Cooper Flagg’s 1st PE of the New Balance Hesi V2 is inspired by the greenery of Maine and will launch 10/22 as he makes his NBA debut.

“It allows me to take a piece of Newport with me as I step onto the court for my first official NBA game,” said Flagg. pic.twitter.com/iUrTLgOs4W

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) October 16, 2025

The design, a nod to his New England roots and the greenery of his hometown in Maine, is the first time Flagg and the brand have launched an exclusive design since he partnered with them in the summer of 2024 ahead of his lone college season. The shoe will reportedly retail at $120 upon availability next week.

The brand and Flagg both spoke to SLAM Magazine in Las Vegas this summer for his cover story. In developing the design and what it represents to the rookie, it also reflects his playing style in many ways.

“That’s what the Hesi Low really provided. All of those three things into one,” added [Kevin] Trotman, Senior Basketball Product Manager at New Balance. “His playing style really speaks to the shoe as well. He’s really smooth and he has a timeless type of game.”

Sneakerheads will have stronger (valid) opinions, but the understated design looks clean and will look good against the Mavericks branding. And the undeniable comfortability of New Balance’s “Dad Shoe” aesthetic will make these a great wear for fans off the court.

The announcement on Thursday pairs nicely with the Dallas Mavericks’ own unveiling of this season’s Hardwod Classic uniform, celebrating the team’s 45th anniversary. While the Mavericks have featured the green uni’s in recent past, this one is particularly special, celebrating the early legends of the expansion franchise.

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A post shared by Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs)

Between Flagg’s shoe launch and the videos from the team celebrating these beautiful green jerseys it got us thinking of another Maverick great wearing some complete classics:

I would be in favor of Flagg leaning into the Brad Davis vibes, leaving just the mustache, and snagging a pair of these socks to face Wembanyama opening night.

The Mavericks are off until opening night on October 22, a game set for an 8:30 PM CT tip-off on ESPN.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...n-ahead-of-nba-debut-wembanyama-opening-night

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Caleb Martin and the Cost of Control

You know that feeling in NBA 2K when you’re in Franchise Mode, trying to build the team of your dreams, and the computer keeps rejecting your trade offers because they’re not remotely fair? So you scroll over to the settings and flip on “Force Trades” — suddenly, all your delusional rebuilds go through, no matter how ridiculous.

The opposite of that was Nico Harrison’s general managing style last season.

While the focus of Mavs fans’ collective rage will always be the abominable trade of Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis, the swap of Quentin Grimes and a second-rounder for Caleb Martin deserves its own plaque in the Hall of Self-Inflicted Wounds.

Dallas didn’t just give away the better player — they attached a pick, too — ostensibly because they were afraid of what Grimes might cost in restricted free agency. Then, in a twist of cosmic comedy, Grimes signed a one-year qualifying offer the Mavericks easily could have matched.

Grimes is what this roster needs more of, not less: a mid-twenties two-way guard still on the rise. Instead, they got a 30-year-old wing on the decline and called it cost control.

That NBA 2K setting called Harrison Mode forces the computer to take trades that are unfair to you — and somehow, the Mavericks keep finding new ways to make that the default.

We’re not here to bury Caleb Martin, or even call him a bad fit. He’s a gamer. But his time in Dallas will always carry a shadow — a reminder of what they gave up to get him, and how regressive the move looks every time Quentin Grimes drops another 25-point night in Philly – especially if Dallas struggles to score with 77 gone west and Kyrie Irving stuck in street clothes.

---

Undrafted. Unbothered. Unafraid — until the body stopped cooperating. Martin clawed from Charlotte’s bench to Miami’s rotation, where his defense and big-stage poise made him a cult hero. In the 2023 East Finals, he outplayed Jaylen Brown and nearly stole ECF MVP from Jimmy Butler.

Then came the slow fade: knees, ankles, shoulders, hips — the attrition tax of Heat Culture minutes. By February 2025, he was two years removed from his peak. Martin parachuted into what remained of a Mavs roster decimated by injuries, but made minimal impact when he was able to get on the floor, averaging under 20 minutes in just 14 games for Dallas.

Big Question​

Dallas’ gamble on Martin wasn’t about the ceiling — it was about control. A mid-tier salary slot. A veteran body. A résumé that whispered safe. The problem: nothing about Caleb Martin has looked safe since he limped out of Philadelphia.

In a front office obsessed with locking in predictable costs, Nico Harrison bet that known quantity > rising quality. Quentin Grimes disagreed — then went and made Philadelphia forget Joel Embiid existed for a month. Now, a preseason has come and gone without a Caleb Martin sighting. Is that a sign of things to come?

Best Case Scenario​

Martin becomes that guy again — the chaos merchant who sprints into passing lanes and hits corner threes before opponents can rotate. If the hip holds and the jumper returns, he can stabilize a second unit built around Max Christie, Naji Marshall, and Brandon Williams. He doesn’t have to score much — just guard, cut, and finish. Think: eight efficient points, solid closeouts, a veteran voice in the locker room.

In this version, Dallas wins a moral victory: the contract becomes tradable, the minutes meaningful, and Harrison can utter “veteran presence” without fans grinding their teeth.

Worst Case Scenario​

The injuries linger. The shot flattens. Martin becomes another entry in Dallas’ long ledger of reactive optimism — a regime allergic to patience but addicted to patchwork. He plays 18 minutes a night, shoots 30 percent from deep, and gives the same postgame quote ten times:

“Just trying to find my rhythm.”

Meanwhile, Quentin Grimes keeps dropping 30 and 40-pieces in Philly, and every Liberty Ballers headline feels like divine trolling.

Season Goals​

• Stay on the floor. Durability is now the talent.
• Reclaim the corner three. It’s his career lifeline.
• Be the defensive irritant again. Dallas doesn’t need another ball-handler; they need someone willing to take the opposing wing’s best scorer.
• Show visible energy. In a rotation of polished veterans, effort is his differentiator.

Overall​

Caleb Martin is the kind of player you root for but don’t rely on. He’s all effort and half stability — a man built to thrive in chaos, now employed by a franchise that manufactures its own.

The tragedy isn’t that he declined. It’s that Dallas paid for his highlight reel instead of his health report.
When you trade youth and upside for cost certainty, you often don’t find reliability — you get a receipt.

Extra Credit Track ​

Black Pumas — “Colors.”
A song about reflection, not regret.
Because sometimes the thing that fades first isn’t talent — it’s timing.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...artin-2025-26-season-preview-dallas-mavericks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Maverick’s Dwight Powell looks to cement his legacy in Dallas

We are officially one week from the start of the NBA regular season, with the Dallas Mavericks kicking things off at home against the San Antonio Spurs next Wednesday, October 22nd. It’s been an emotional past year as a Mavericks fan, to say the least. There have been some difficult goodbyes, and one very auspicious welcome, alongside an often tumultuous fan relationship with the franchise’s leadership. For many of the old Dirk-heads amongst us, major change wasn’t something of a regular occurrence within the Dallas locker room, nor within the way it conducted its business. While 2025 showcases a different set of commonalities and virtues than that era did, it can certainly be said that this team – as a whole – showcases a wider range of talent than almost any team since the 2011 championship squad. And while health may play a major factor in where this team ultimately ends up, its ceiling is nonetheless very high, on paper.

Something that doesn’t always appear on that paper, though, is a team’s chemistry and its veteran leadership. And as we prepare to kick off what we anticipate as being a strong 2025 campaign here in Dallas, our initial question is: who better to set our expectations by than the longest-tenured player on the team (with the 5th most regular season games played in franchise history): Dwight Harlan Powell?

Big Question​

In my mind, there are two big questions. First (a two-parter, itself), can Dwight be the veteran presence needed in this locker room to help with unlocking Cooper Flagg’s potential, as well as leading this team from an emotional standpoint? Powell has shown a great deal of tenacity during his lengthy career. He’s often asked to be ready to start at a moment’s notice, while other times being depended upon to be a vocal leader from the bench. With Flagg hoping to hit the ground running as a rookie, and with the Mavs being without elite veteran Kyrie Irving to start the season, can Powell provide that steady voice to keep the ship upright during the good and bad times this team will face?

The second, and maybe more important question, is how much will we see Dwight in action this season? What his minute average looks like in a few minutes could be a telling stat for one of two very different reasons. If the team’s starters are kicking ass and taking names early on, leading to big enough leads to warrant sitting the starters during the 4th quarter, Jason Kidd may call on Dwight to spell the more elite players ahead of him in the front court (Anthony Davis, Derrick Lively II, Daniel Gafford). The other scenario that sees Powell with big minutes is the scary one. As talented as the three big men just mentioned are, if more than one of them finds themself on the injury list, Dallas’s defense-first gameplan could face major complications.

Best Case Scenario​

The best case scenario would be the one mentioned above where Dwight sees lots of 4th quarter minutes due to excellent game execution by the starters, with Dallas winning a high volume of games by large margins via elite defense and steady offense. With this scenario, the punch king of Dallas basketball can ride out the final season of his current contract like a horse into the sunset. And best, best case scenario, Dwight is able to fill this very important role on a team that wins the championship, something which would absolutely cement Powell’s legacy in Dallas and increase his status as a local fan-favorite.

Worst Case Scenario​

As also mentioned above, the worst case scenario for Dwight Powell’s season this year would also be the worst case scenario for the Mavericks team, which would find him starting at the 5 for any reason other than resting starters for the playoffs.

Season Goal​

With those things in mind, it seems best to stay on the positive side of thinking and talk realistically about what we hope to see from Dwight. I think it’s more of the first question above. Not only can he be a voice of leadership for this very talented team (alongside veterans Klay Thompson, Davis, and Irving), but can he find a way to help unlock Flagg’s potential by teaching him some of those hard-earned tricks that have made him the resilient player that he is?

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...powell2025-26-season-preview-dallas-mavericks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: The Atlanta Hawks are ready to soar

Atlanta has not made the playoffs in two seasons. In fact, since they made the Conference Finals in 2021, their success has slowly tailed off. They have lost in the first round twice, had a winning record once, and have had three head coaches. It has been a whirlwind for the Hawks, and not the reality fans thought they’d be in when Trae Young made the All-Star team in his second season.

Fortunately, the arrow is pointing up in Atlanta. They have last year’s number one pick, Zaccharie Risacher, a great young forward in Jalen Johnson, and traded for former Maverick Kristaps Porzingis this summer. Dyson Daniels made a leap last year into a Swiss Army Knife that helps in every way. Clint Capela was dealt to Houston to clear space for Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu to control the paint. This is a group that has athleticism, youth, talent, and defensive capability. The Hawks are looking to put the East on notice.

Atlanta Hawks: Over/Under 47.5 Wins (-104/-118)​

Last Season: 40-42​

Additions: Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard​

Losses: Larry Nance Jr., Terance Mann​

I love everything the Hawks did this offseason. The Young-Porzingis relationship is a bit 2020 Mavericks-y, but I think with Porzingis’ maturity and the defenders they have around them, it can probably work. Luke Kennard has sneakily been one of the best shooters in the league since he was drafted, and this is a chance to be a part of a meaningful team, something he hasn’t experienced in a few seasons. Johnson is a guy who can be a difference-maker for a championship team, and if he stays healthy, the All-Star game could be in his cards. This Hawks team is good, hungry, and well-constructed. Don’t be surprised if they have home court advantage in the playoffs.

Prediction: Over 47.5 wins (-104)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...-season-preview-trae-young-kristaps-porzingis

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: The Memphis Grizzlies might be underrated

Memphis won a very quiet 48 games a season ago. That was good for eighth place in an extremely competitive Western Conference. They were swept in round one by the eventual champions, and for the third consecutive season, they failed to win a playoff series. After another disappointing season, they traded Desmond Bane to Orlando to allow some of their young players to step up.

Memphis is now entering year seven with Ja Morant. They have yet to make it out of the second round with him. He has been on and off the court as much as anyone the last few years, so to say this is a “prove it” year for him and the franchise would be an understatement. There are a lot of storylines going into the NBA season, and Memphis has flown under the radar. The Grizzlies are looking to show the West that they are still here.

Memphis Grizzlies: Over/Under 39.5 Wins (-106/-114)​

Last Season: 48-34​

Additions: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cedric Coward​

Losses: Desmond Bane, Jake Laravia, Marcus Smart​

Ja Morant is still a very good player. He has averaged 26 points and seven assists in the 177 games he has played over the last four seasons. The issue, obviously, is that his game total is so low. He cannot stay on the court for many reasons. Couple that with Jaren Jackson’s turf toe, Zach Edey’s ankle surgery, and Brandon Clarke’s knee, and you have a very large injury concern with the Grizzlies’ core. Regardless, in the last three seasons in which Morant played 50-plus games, Memphis has won 48 games or more. The loss of Desmond Bane will be felt, but they have the likes of Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson, and Vince Williams to pick up some of the slack Bane left. This total is too low for a team with this much talent.

Prediction: Over 39.5 wins (-106)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...rizzlies-2025-26-nba-season-preview-ja-morant

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

SB Reacts: Predicting the Dallas Mavericks season-opening home stand

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavericks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

I didn’t realize until this week that Dallas starts their season with the longest homestand they will have all season. As a result, I’m placing a lot of importance on the Mavericks dominating this series of games. What do you think will happen here? I don’t see anything worse than 3-3, which is why the options stop there.

Results will be posted later in the week!

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...he-dallas-mavericks-season-opening-home-stand

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: The Houston Rockets will try to be a better version of the Mavericks

Houston nearly beat the Warriors last postseason in a thrilling seven-game series. They have accrued so many young players over the last handful of years in their rebuild after James Harden left, and last year’s playoff exit signaled the need for a change. Jalen Green was the obvious candidate to be shipped out, and that is exactly what they did. It was obvious they needed scoring, so they went and got the best scorer they could get: Kevin Durant.

Now the expectation is a championship. Durant is 37 but as efficient as ever. He is surrounded by young talent and enough defense to allow his sole responsibility to be putting the ball in the basket. The Rockets are desperate to get back to the NBA Finals after years of underwhelming results, and Durant has a chance to win a ring void of “superteam” labels. This is a big pairing for the two parties, and one that comes with a lot of pressure.

Houston Rockets: Over/Under 52.5 Wins (-105/-115)​

Last Season: 52-30​

Additions: Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, Josh Okogie​

Losses: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet (injury)​

The Rockets are going to be very good. Durant completes that team in a sort of poetic way, and Ime Udoka is a fantastic coach. Unfortunately, they lost point guard Fred VanVleet to injury before the season began, so Amen Thompson will be forced into a much larger role. They have a similar roster to the Mavericks, with a plethora of forwards and a collection of big men. Their issue without VanVleet, much like Dallas, is finding enough ball-handling to make the offense work. Unless Reed Sheppard is a revelation, 53 wins a bit too high for the way the Rockets are constructed.

Prediction: Under 52.5 wins (-115)​

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ckets-2025-26-nba-season-preview-kevin-durant

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs Spurs Preview and Injury Update: The NBA is back!

The Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs in the opening game of the season for both teams on Wednesday night. The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:30 pm local time.

It’s Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut and according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the former Duke forward will be getting the start at point guard. A new era is truly upon us. He’ll be facing off against Victor Wembanyama, the other generational draft pick from recent years. Here’s the main things you need to know before the game.

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs
• WHAT: The Mavericks finally play meaningful basketball in a season opener on ESPN
• WHERE: Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
• WHEN: 8:30 p.m. CST
• HOW: ESPN, also Playback with Kirk

Join us on Playback!​

Make sure to check out the Mavs Moneyball Playback stream to watch games with us! To sign up:

• Head over to playback.tv and create an account with your email address
• Connect and select your NBA League Pass login as your streaming account (sign up for League Pass here first if you don’t have it)
• Go to https://www.playback.tv/mavsmoneyball and hit the JOIN button
• Make sure to activate push notifications so you know when we’re going live

On the injury front, Kyrie Irving is obviously out for the Mavericks. Dante Exum is also out with whatever is wrong with his knee. Daniel Gafford is listed as doubtful as of the most recent injury report. The Spurs will be without the services of De’Aaron Fox, Jeremy Sochan, and Kelly Olynyk.

There’s already a fair amount of writing up on the site about this game. Check out the longer game preview here and then there’s the gambling preview here, though if you’re reading this it’s probably past time to submit bets. I enjoyed this piece on vibes too that was fun to participate in.

I get to write the recap tonight. Check back for that and other game posts later.

As you can tell below, you can join me in a room on Playback (embed below) during the game (though I may not be able to start it until halftime). Also consider joining Josh and I on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start around 10:15 pm. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

new Playback.Embed("playback-embed", { room: "mavsmoneyball", style: { height: "100%", width: "100%" }, });

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...art-time-tv-stream-injury-report-how-to-watch

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

There’s an easy fix to the Dallas Mavericks’ problems in season opener, Jason Kidd says

The Dallas Mavericks lost to the San Antonio Spurs by 33 points Wednesday night in Dallas. Lack of spacing, shot creation, defensive cohesion – and too much Victor Wembanyama – are just some of the issues the Mavs struggled with in the nightmare start to the season.

During the preseason, the Mavs have been very vocal about wanting to be an elite defense this year. And after a lackluster effort on the defensive end in game one, Jason Kidd was asked what went wrong defensively in his post-game interview:

“Our offense. It starts offensively, so we’ve gotta be better offensively and that will help our defense.”

The Mavs seemed to struggle creating shots for others all game, but Kidd didn’t see it quite that way. The solution is simple, he says:

“We didn’t have trouble, we just didn’t pass the ball. That’s easy to fix. Just make a play for a teammate.”

The number of assists by the starters backs this up. Dereck Lively, who only played ten minutes at center due to foul trouble, led the starters in assists with three. Only six assists all game came from the five starters, and none from Cooper Flagg.

First thought on the Dallas loss to Spurs last night: https://t.co/ZDspDXj0mQ pic.twitter.com/IsLUcxcizI

— Mette L. Robertson (@M_Robertson100) October 23, 2025

On a side note and personal pet peeve, maybe it’s not a good idea to put a rookie natural four in the position of point guard, no matter his incredible talent, to start his NBA career, as Kidd has been wanting to do. I wrote a whole thing about why, here. Flagg did fine in his debut, however, with a double double of ten points and ten rebounds, he’s a great player and will get his time to shine soon.

Back to the problems with passing the ball. Anthony Davis, 22 points and 13 rebounds, didn’t look the part of a franchise player at all, despite leading all scorers, isolating too much and settling for midrange jumpers. He had one assist. After the game, he made clear that he saw way too much isolation offense – hopefully he was including himself in this statement:

“We were playing a lot of isolation basketball, we’re not gonna win games like that. We got guys that are capable of doing it, but we don’t want to play like that… We gotta be able to move the basketball from side to side and get good looks,” he said after the game.

The diagnosis may be spot on. But is the fix that simple? The problem with calling something an easy fix like Kidd did, is the fact that people will hold you up to that next game, and the games after that.

Was it that easily fixed? Just pass the ball? Or is there an underlying issue here that needs to be addressed?

Maybe the lack of a true point guard who can create on the highest level to match the incredible talent on the team is starting to show? Maybe positionless basketball doesn’t work when most of your roster is limited to one position?

These are just some of the questions we should ask ourselves after a blowout loss to a team, which – granted – has the next European superstar leveling up as we speak. But don’t the Mavs have the next American superstar? And don’t they have one of the best defensive bigs in the league?

There are a lot of questions left unanswered after the season opener. Let’s hope Kidd and the team find a way to solve both the easy and the hard problems facing this group before long. Or maybe just remind them to pass the ball more.

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...cks-problems-in-season-opener-jason-kidd-says

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things the Mavericks need to get right ahead of Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards

Where are we after one game in the books and 81 of these things remaining, Mavs fans?

Have all our suspicions about mystifying roster construction been confirmed, or are we still clinging to the front office’s crystal clear “defense wins championships” vision, firm in pre-established conclusions that this team just has to be good this year?

Well, perhaps the Washington Wizards’ Friday date with the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center will illuminate us all a little further. Or, maybe a better result against a perennial NBA cellar dweller will let those of us clinging to preconceived notions do so a little while longer.

As of the NBA’s 8:30 p.m. Tuesday injury report, Daniel Gafford has been upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game against the Wizards. Washington will be without the services of guard Bilal Coulibaly in Dallas, while he recovers from hand surgery.

Foul trouble​

Dereck Lively II picked up his third foul before the end of the first quarter in Wednesday’s season-opening loss to the Spurs. Anthony Davis followed him to the bench when he picked up his fourth before halftime. Yes, it would have been great to have Daniel Gafford in off the bench when Lively picked up his second with 1:15 left in the first, but regardless of Gafford’s injury status, there is no reason on God’s Green Earth that Lively should have been in the game to pick up his third 40 seconds later. Looking squarely in your direction, Jason Kidd.

Where Gafford’s absence really made an impact was when Davis picked up his second with 7:40 left in the first half. Kidd’s hands were more tied in that situation, with Lively already saddled with three. Davis went on to pick up two more fouls in the half’s final 2:47 to swing the doors wide open to a second half chock full of small-ball minutes from the biggest roster in the NBA.

There is enough blame to go around here. Without Gafford, the Mavs’ other big men have decidedly less room for boneheaded mistakes on the defensive end. Kidd also has to think inside the box more and get these guys out of the game when the situation on the floor calls for it. He wants to trust his guys, and he trusted them to a fault in the season opener. That can’t happen against a Wizards team that will force both Lively and Davis to defend smaller, more agile guys (aside from the 7’0” Alex Sarr) with its roster makeup.

Ball security​

Cooper Flagg and Ryan Nembhard, the two rookie ball-handlers the Mavs featured instead of relying more on the historically unreliable D’Angelo Russsell, turned the ball over three times apiece in their respective NBA debuts, accounting for six of the team’s 16 turnovers on the night. Russell played just 15 minutes in the season opener against the Spurs.

Our own Kirk Henderson noted in his recap of the Spurs’ runaway win over the Mavericks on Wednesday that the significant role that Nembhard was forced into on Night 1 of the season points to greater problems with the team’s roster construction, and I can’t agree more. Again, sure, if would have been nice to have Dante Exum around as another option in the backcourt against the Spurs, but Exum is not the solution to this team’s problems. All Exum would have been is just “another guy.”

The guard positions are a problem for this team. The fact that Kidd didn’t have more trust in the veteran Russell than for 15 minutes on the floor is another head-scratcher. Because even if you don’t like his game or didn’t like him as an offseason addition, which I did not, he’s a better option in the short term than throwing an undrafted two-way rookie to the wolves to start the season.

Passing and cohesion​

This one may take a little longer, or a roster move, to address. It points back again to roster construction.

The Mavericks’ starting five combined for a whopping six assists in the team’s 33-point loss to the Spurs on Wednesday. To me, fixing the lack of quality shot creation we saw on Wednesday isn’t as simple as just starting a true point guard and ball distributor instead of Cooper Flagg at the point guard position.

The obvious choice for starting point guard if that’s what you’re trying to accomplish would, again, be Russell. He’s established. He, at very least, knows what he’s doing at that position. But he’s never been an assist machine at point guard in his 10-plus-year NBA career. He’s always been more of a scoring point guard, averaging in the five-to-six assist range for the last several years. He managed three in his 15 minutes on the floor against San Antonio.

So, we’ve arrived back at roster construction. Kidd can call the fix a “simple” one all he wants. To me it doesn’t seem so simple if the solution does not currently exist on the team’s roster. The Mavs need a distribution hub to make this offense move, but who on this roster can they turn to for that very necessary skill? At present, the team is searching.

How to watch​

The Mavericks host the Wizards on Friday, with the game set to tip at 7:30 p.m. CDT. The game will be broadcast locally on KFAA Channel 29 and streamed on MavsTV.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...f-fridays-game-against-the-washington-wizards

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 Mavericks games that will make you rejoice this season

The Dallas Mavericks kicked off their 2025-26 campaign against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday at the American Airlines Center, a thrashing by Victor Wembanyama and Co. Now that the ball is rolling it got us looking ahead to the rest of the calendar for our annual tradition. Every season there is, inevitably, a handful of games that get you off your couch questioning God or planning a parade route. These are the Rage/Rejoice games of the season. The unexpected ones where the personal stakes are higher and the emotions are stronger. Here, the games that will make you rejoice. Whether it’s teams they have no business beating, or rivalry wins that feel a bit sweeter. Pop the champagne, we’re going streaking.

Nov 21: vs New Orleans Pelicans​

Even though divisions don’t matter in the NBA, the Mavericks have no favors facing the volume of young big man talent in the Southwest. The aforementioned Wembanyama at the top of that food chain, but there really is no rest anywhere you turn.

Circle November 21, when the Mavericks host the Pelican in group play of the NBA Cup. While one can assume they won’t exactly matchup opposite each other, it will be fun to see Cooper Flagg face off against another former Duke Blue Devil in Zion Williamson. With added stakes (your mileage may vary) to this November game ahead of the holidays, this should be a highlight-filled home game to lock into, where the Mavericks surprise media and threaten to advance in the upstart tournament. Speaking of Flagg…

Jan 19: at New York Knicks​

Flagg made his Madison Square Garden debut with the Duke back in February of this year. He posted 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, including this smooth move to the rim.

By Flagg’s college standards it was a modest performance. But strange start time aside, the rookie will be deep into his first season, have his legs under him, and will be more comfortable with the ball in his hands by the Mavericks visit to New York for their MLK Day matchup. Plenty of eyes will be on this moment, televised nationally on NBC and Peacock. The Knicks have a lot of big defensive bodies to throw at him, but mark this game as a moment Flagg comes into his own as a pro.

Mar 1: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder​

The defending champion Thunder lost just 14 times last regular season. Three of those losses were at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. And this was the pre-Luka trade Mavericks, so the Thunder weren’t checked out and feeling pity on their opponent down I-35. You can’t explain it, I can’t explain it. But last season’s Mavericks (and the playoff Mavericks the summer before that) had the Thunder’s number.

A lot has changed since those pre-trade wins. Luka is gone, the Thunder bulked their way to the 2025 title, and the Mavericks are on a quest for a new identity. On paper I’m not sure the Mavericks have any business sticking with OKC. Not if the opening night version of the Mavericks show up.

But by March 1 they won’t be the opening night squad. First the Thunder have been plagued by one man: Paul Jamaine Washington. The Mavericks forward has pestered them in the playoffs and regular season — PJ just shows up, and he does again here. And this time he’ll be playing off of a returned Kyrie Irving. Who is to say when Irving returns and how much he’ll really have in the tank this season. But for the sake of argument (and dreaming) we’re assuming the starting scoring guard returned nearer the all-star break, got some rhythm games under his belt, and this March 1 game is the moment he gives Mavericks fans hope that they still have some juice heading into next season.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...n-flagg-thunder-madison-square-garden-nba-cup

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things we’re pouting about as Dallas flails against the Washington Wizards, 117-107

The Mavericks lost their second straight game to begin the 2025-26 season and their home opener on Friday night in embarrassing fashion, 117-107 to the Washington Wizards. Kyshawn George led the way for the Wizards with 34 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and five steals. Dallas native Tre Johnson also added 17 points, and Alex Sarr had a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double. Anthony Davis led another pathetic performance for Dallas with 27 points and 13 rebounds.

The script was the same for the Mavericks in Friday’s loss as we saw in the season opener on Wednesday. Dallas started aggressively and looked dominant against a team that won 18 games last season, taking a commanding 35-28 lead. The Mavericks lost the game early in the second quarter, starting the quarter 0-for-8 from the field, while the Wizards put together an 11-0 run. It was 41-39 Washington when Davis made the first field goal of the second quarter for the Mavs with seven minutes left before halftime.

Davis and PJ Washington carried the Mavericks through the rest of a sluggish second, while the Wizards piled up 27 points in the frame. At halftime, the score was 58-52. The Wizards’ bench outscored the Mavericks’ bench 31-10 in the first half, and the Mavericks as a team had shot 5-for-20 from 3-point range. It was the perfect recipe for losing to a lottery team at home.

The second half started off as sluggish as the second quarter; the Wizards quickly extended the lead to 12 points, which they mostly sustained throughout the rest of the game. The Mavericks tried some different looks in the 3rd quarter, giving Jaden Hardy the green light and going with a three-guard lineup to try and generate some offense. The Mavericks kept up offensively, matching the Wizards in field goals for the quarter and even outshooting them from 3-point land in the third.

It did not matter, as the Mavericks could not seem to stop the Wizards, who scored 6 field goals in the paint in the quarter, leading to a 13-point Washington lead going into the 4th. The Mavericks tried to make it a game, whittling the Wizards’ lead down to six before the 10-minute mark of the quarter. Cooper Flagg tried to save the day for the Mavs, going 3-for-5 and leading the charge to keep it close. Head coach Jason Kidd subbed Flagg out after his hot stretch to get Anthony Davis going, who smoked an and-1 attempt, missed the front end of his ensuing free throws and then had a turnover leading to a Wizards’ bucket that put them up by eight.

Naji Marshall fouled Bub Carrington on a 3-point play late, which pretty much ended the game. Kidd let Flagg check back, and the rookie promptly responded with a thunderous dunk, but then turned the ball over a couple times while running the point down the stretch. The lack of ball security allowed the Wizards to maintain their lead and steal the win in Dallas. While the Mavs showed some fight and more competence than they did against the Spurs on Wednesday, it was still an embarrassing loss.

The Mavs’ offense is a mess​

The Mavericks’ offense just looks lost. From the coaches to the players, going through multiple lulls against the Washington Wizards, where you do not score baskets, is simply unacceptable for a team with expectations as high as the Mavericks. The lineups are a mess and inconsistent. Jason Kidd seems to be experimenting early, which he is known to do, but you usually see some of the experiments work.

The half-court offense is the worst. The Mavericks run two sets: one is a pick-and-pop with Davis, and the other is a dribble-handoff with Davis. Other than that, Kidd is trusting a bunch of wings and centers to create offense for themselves and others through isolation, which just feels like a disaster. From the starters to the garbage time players, each lineup seems to score on one of about every four possessions, and that simply is not sustainable. The Mavs were outshot from 3-point range, took fewer free throws, shot 7% worse from the field, were out-assisted, and had more turnovers against the Washington Wizards at home. That’s the story of the game.

Be patient with Cooper Flagg​

Cooper Flagg showed us tonight why he was the consensus number-1 draft pick this past June. In the first quarter, he was 1-for-2 from the floor and showed his passing skill set early, finding a number of open teammates who left his potential assists unfinished. He also had a rebound and an assist in about eight minutes, a good showing for the rookie after he could not find the basket until the late second quarter on Wednesday. The most impressive part of Flagg’s night was the early part of the fourth quarter.

The rookie got himself to the line multiple times and took over the game with a contested 3-pointer and an insane dunk to bring the Mavs within four.

Kidd subbed him out while he was hot, but the rookie showed a flash of the potential he has and will continue to unlock this offseason

Jason Kidd has given up on D’Angelo Russell​

D’Angelo Russell was supposed to be the big offseason signing for the Mavs. The thought was that Russell would be able to provide some stability for the Mavericks on the offensive side of the ball, while his defensive deficiencies would be hidden behind a stifling Mavericks defense. In a close game against a bad team in which the Mavericks struggled offensively, Russell played only eight minutes, and none in the second half.

This includes Kidd’s experiment with a three-guard lineup of Ryan Nembhard, Jaden Hardy, and Max Christie. Russell had one point, three assists and zero turnovers in the first half, but could not stay in front of anyone and was 0-for-3 on some questionable shot selection. Kidd quickly pulled the plug and sat the vet for the entire second half of a game you badly needed his theoretical abilities in.

The second loss of the season summed up in one thought? Yea, it was even more discouraging than the first.

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Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...cks-lose-to-wizards-final-score-117-107-recap

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

SB Reacts: Maverick Fans think D’Angelo Russell should play point guard

This week’s SB Nation Mavericks React poll had two questions, and I posted them early enough in the week that they might be interesting to look back on by next Friday. First, I asked about the Mavericks’ record. Dallas has a six-game home stand to kick off the year, and as of this writing, they’ve only played the Spurs. The result speaks to a fanbase optimistic on the season.

Given that many people may have voted AFTER the Spurs game, it seems we collectively believe this team is a lot better than how they played. I do hope they beat the crap out of the Wizards.

The second question was about who should start at point, Cooper Flagg or D’Angelo Russell.

The fanbase doesn’t want to see Flagg play point as much as Jason Kidd does. Whether it’s a Kidd disdain for Russell, a desire to help Flagg grow, or a mix of both, the majority of fans do not want to see Flagg at point guard. I tend to agree. He’s a play finisher right now. Maybe he can be something else one day, but if Dallas is trying to be a contender, this role doesn’t make sense for Flagg.

Then we pivot to the National survey results. The first question was about winning the East.

The Knicks and Cavs win out this poll overwhelmingly. With the Boston Celtics breaking apart, it makes sense, but neither of these teams strikes me as Championship ready.

The second question was about the Western Conference race.

The Thunder and Nuggets win out this poll, which tracks with my thinking. Shout out to the fans who have that faith in the Dallas Mavericks. The Warriors are a sneaky sleeper if you ask me.

The third question was a NBA Finals prediction.

Too much orange and blue between these two teams for my liking. Thunder would wallop the Knicks. Four game sweep kind of butt kicking.

The last question is about winning the Finals. These results are hilarious.

Only 7% of fans think ANY East team will win the Finals? It’s rough out there folks.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/gener...think-dangelo-russell-should-play-point-guard