The Dallas Mavericks enter the 2025-26 NBA season with many doubts and, at the same time, high expectations. The Texas franchise faces a transitional year following the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move criticized as one of the riskiest in recent sports history.
Amid all that noise, many forget that the Mavericks have Anthony Davis, one of the league’s most dominant players when fully healthy. Kendrick Perkins, former player and now ESPN analyst, made sure to remind everyone during his appearance on the Road Trippin’ Pod: “People are sleeping on Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. He’s going to be on a mission. Folks better watch out for AD,” he said emphatically.
The important arrival of Cooper Flagg
Adding to the Mavericks’ narrative is the number one draft pick, Cooper Flagg, who promises to be one of the NBA’s young sensations. His arrival has sparked great excitement in Dallas and across the league, but at the same time, it has shifted attention away from the crucial role Anthony Davis will play in this new project.
With Flagg bringing youth and talent, and Davis as an established star, the Mavericks could form a duo capable of competing in the West once they build on-court chemistry. The mix of experience and youth is one of the team’s biggest draws this season.
Dallas Mavericks without Kyrie Irving
One of the biggest challenges for Jason Kidd’s squad will be the absence of Kyrie Irving, who will miss a significant portion of the season’s start. However, the NBA schedule reflects Dallas’s continued relevance, as they will open the season on October 22 against the San Antonio Spurs and have nationally televised games, including opening night and Christmas Day.
This shows that, despite Doncic’s departure and early doubts, the league still sees the Mavericks as an exciting team for fans and one with potential to make headlines.
Can the Mavericks surprise?
Although the Dallas Mavericks may not start as a real threat in the Western Conference, the outlook could change dramatically once Irving returns to the rotation. With a motivated Anthony Davis, an impactful rookie like Cooper Flagg, and a roster that still has young pieces to develop, Dallas could become a tough opponent for anyone.
Kendrick Perkins made it clear: underestimating Anthony Davis is a mistake that Mavericks’ opponents could pay dearly for. If the star stays healthy and the team finds its rhythm, Dallas has everything it needs to become one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Read the full article here
