The Dallas Mavericks are kicking off their 2026-2027 campaign on October 9th against the Houston Rockets in Macau, China, and honestly, the entire team from 2025 has basically been blown up. There are massive questions all over this roster, but Christian Clark just gave us a huge piece of the puzzle, tweeting out the starting lineup for this first game: Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Zaccharie Risacher, Cooper Flagg, and Morez Johnson Jr.
This Starting Five Is NOT What We Expected
Okay, so that lineup immediately begs the biggest question: who’s actually fitting in around Cooper Flagg and, more importantly, a returning Kyrie Irving? The Mavs have a ton of guys who could start in the NBA, but that fit is everything. My gut says Naji Marshall, despite being one of their top five talents, might actually be coming off the bench as the sixth-man. That’s a bold call right out of the gate.
Then there’s the P.J. Washington situation. He’s been a mainstay since he got to Dallas, but with Morez Johnson Jr. and Santi Aldama in the picture, his starting spot is totally up for grabs. Starting Johnson Jr. would be a massive commitment to the future, for real, while Aldama is supposedly the best fit next to Flagg. And don’t forget Zaccharie Risacher, who the Mavs snagged this summer. He’s got serious talent and potential, and a contract extension possibly over $20 million a year is looming for him after this season. It’s Dusty May’s first NBA games coaching, so we’re all watching to see what kind of wild cards he plays here. Could we see Johnson Jr. at center? An all-lottery lineup? The possibilities are wild.
New Blood Rises, But Can Kyrie Get Back To Form?
Beyond the starting lineup drama, everyone’s buzzing about the rookies, Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea. Both are expected to be immediate contributors this season, and these early games are their first real taste of NBA action. We saw plenty of promise from them in Summer League: Johnson Jr. with his defense and athleticism, and De Larrea showing off his passing. For Johnson Jr., he’s gotta prove he can stretch the floor as a three-point shooter and hold his own defensively at the 5. De Larrea, on the other hand, needs to show he can handle the NBA’s ball pressure and physicality as a ball handler, plus flash that catch-and-shoot ability.
But let’s be real, the biggest source of optimism, and probably the biggest question mark, is Kyrie Irving’s return. The dude missed all of last season with a knee injury. He’s 34 now, and there are legit questions about whether he can still perform at an All-Star level. What I’m absolutely glued to with Irving is his overall… everything. Can he lead? Can he score like he used to? Can he stay healthy?
It’s just the start of the campaign, yeah, but with this much roster turnover and so many burning questions, every single minute in Macau is going to be under the microscope. Can Dusty May start piecing this puzzle together? Can the rookies explode onto the scene? And seriously, can Kyrie silence the doubters right out of the gate? This isn’t just a game; it’s the beginning of something potentially wild, and we’re strapped in for the ride.
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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