The Dallas Mavericks are one of the NBA’s most intriguing teams for 2025-26.
Kyrie Irving’s injury was one of two major factors that ruined the Dallas Mavericks‘ season last year, along with the shocking Luka Doncic trade.
The worst part about Irving’s ACL tear is the length of the recovery, with the superstar point guard expected to be out until late January or February 2026.
Irving’s delayed start to the forthcoming season makes the Mavericks one of the most unpredictable teams next season, despite a stacked roster.
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty ImagesCooper Flagg saved the Dallas Mavericks
At their lowest ebb, the Dallas Mavericks were the shock winners of the NBA Draft Lottery, landing the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. They had just a 1.8 percent chance to do so.
Cooper Flagg was the automatic pick, and with the Mavericks keeping the core of their roster together, they could become one of the NBA’s surprise teams, and a real threat late in the season.
Despite this, NBA insider Brian Windhorst says he cannot get behind the idea that the Mavericks’ ceiling is winning the championship for the first time since 2011.
Posting on Threads, Windhorst wrote: “The Mavs have great depth, size and star power. This is an excellent modern formula.
“I also continue to be so impressed with Cooper Flagg’s confidence and savvy. But winning it at is a super high bar and I can’t go there.”
Dallas Mavericks face tough task in strong West
The Mavericks won’t admit it, but this is somewhat of a transition season for the team, in Flagg’s first NBA year and Irving recovering from an ACL.
They will be a formidable opponent for teams, but last year they failed to make it through the Play-In Tournament.
In a deep Western Conference, the Mavs face a tall order to land a top-six seed, and could be back in the Play-In once again.
If they can make it through, and win one or two playoff series, that would arguably constitute a success.
But as Windhorst says, winning it all is a very high bar.