The Dallas Mavericks are sitting at 2-2, and honestly, after the last 20 months, that record is enough to make a Mavs fan feel like Keanu Reeves. “People keep asking if I’m back and I haven’t really had an answer, but now yeah, I’m thinking I’m back.” This team, which has seen a GM fired, head coaches switched out, and most of their 2024 NBA Finals roster traded away, all while controlling just one first round pick in the next five NBA Drafts, is already crushing expectations. Seriously, heading into the year, a 1-3 start would’ve been a prayer. If you told me Cooper Flagg would miss a game and a half and Kyrie Irving would sit a back-to-back, I’d have braced for 0-4. But here we are. Dallas grabbed road wins against Indiana and Miami, despite dropping games to San Antonio and Houston. After a rough season opener, they’ve shown bright spots in three straight games. This isn’t just luck, there’s something different about this squad.
Cooper Flagg Is Already Unstoppable
Even with Flagg missing time thanks to a controversial foul by Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith, the kid is an absolute force. The 19-year-old is already establishing himself as one of the league’s young superstars, averaging 25 points per game on a ridiculous 57% shooting. His per-game stats don’t even tell the whole story since he sat out that game and a half, but in three games, he’s also racked up 11 steals and five blocks. Plus, his playmaking has taken another huge leap, with him dishing out over six and a half assists a night. Flagg’s ascension is going to grab all the headlines, and he absolutely deserves it. He is electric, a highlight reel waiting to happen, and the engine driving a lot of this early success.
More Than Just Superstars For Dallas
Sure, Flagg and Irving are the two superstars. First-year head coach Dusty May put it perfectly after the 113-109 win in Miami, saying, “Our guys simply made big, big plays and big shots at the end. It’s a lot of fun when your two superstars are as unselfish as [Flagg and Irving] are, and they show as much grace as they bring along these younger players. It’s been fun to be a part of and see it so far. Obviously a long way to go, but this is a very, very good win for our team.” But it’s the depth around them that’s really sparking hope that Dallas could actually defy all the doom-and-gloom predictions this year and push for the playoffs. Walter Clayton Jr., who was signed the day of their first game in Houston, has been an instant, perfect fit. He dropped 15 points in just 17 minutes in that Miami win and was a team-best +22. He’s giving Flagg and the Mavericks a vital outlet when plays break down, or a drive to the basket gets stalled. They even kept it close against the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs for three and a half quarters, doing it without both Flagg and Irving. Getting two road wins against Eastern Conference opponents who expected big runs after their own disappointing 2025 campaigns? That’s not nothing.
The Mavericks are heading home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, and the energy around this team feels completely different. After such a tumultuous stretch, this 2-2 start isn’t just a record, it’s a statement. Can they keep this momentum going and truly make a run at defying expectations? We’ll be watching every second.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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