The Dallas Mavericks faithful have had it rough over the last year and a half. A devastating trade that broke up a Finals team, humbling injury after humbling injury and a roster full of would-be bench riders. Someone has to be blamed, right? With Nico Harrison gone, Anthony Davis shipped out to DC, Cooper Flagg being the golden boy, and Kyrie Irving benched for the season, fans have clung to a scapegoat: P.J. Washington.

The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Washington is a soldier, a team player and a culture setter. The man hasn’t changed; the circumstances have. The statistics have barely changed, but the empty rhetoric would make you think he should be a G-League benchwarmer.

Why the Dallas Mavericks are Lucky to Have P.J. Washington

Of the three guys who remain from the 2024 Western Conference Champs starting lineup, Washington seems to hold the least amount of sentimental value for Mavericks fans. This is an unjust assumption. The ball doesn’t lie, and neither do the numbers.

While Washington’s averages have dropped slightly since last season, the players around him have changed. As an off-the-ball menace, Washington is largely held ransom while dealing with subpar point guard play. This season marks the first instance in his NBA career without an elite playmaker on the floor since his rookie year. His brilliance has been shown in playing alongside LaMelo Ball, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and even solid high-IQ backups such as Spencer Dinwiddie and Terry Rozier.

The Stat Sheet Tells All

“3J” has lost his three-ball this season, shooting only 30% with 0.4 fewer attempts per game compared to last year. However, his two-point field goal percentage has risen to 52% from 49% in his last campaign with an extra 0.4 attempts. This shows from an analytical sense that Washington is actively shifting the way he plays the game to accommodate for lackluster playmaking. He gets to the cup more and is compensating for not receiving the looks he is used to getting. That’s what a team player does.

This is what makes P.J. Washington a championship piece. Finding a way to be consistent through adversity. Switching from Kyrie and Luka to Brandon Williams while only scoring 0.5 PPG less? Nuts.

Washington’s average rebounds per game has dropped from 7.8 to 7.0, a stat that draws criticism. What is seldom highlighted, however, is that both Naji Marshall and Max Christie are both having career rebounding seasons while commonly sharing the floor with Washington. Add the influence of the worm-like Cooper Flagg picking up his own share of boards, and it all makes sense. P.J. Washington isn’t rebounding as much because he doesn’t need to.

The still impressive 14/7/2 that Washington is providing this season shows consistency, worth and leadership. Add this to his never-say-die attitude, relentless running and hard man persona, he’s a guy you want on your team. At 27 years of age and closing in on veteran status, he is a perfect running buddy for Flagg in the forward positions. He’ll never be the first option. He’ll never be the star, but he is a luxury player. With Kyrie returning next year, we may see the best P.J. Washington we have ever seen.

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