Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) poses during media day on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
P.J. Washington’s one-word answer to a question during media day crystallized his primary goal for this season.
What do the Dallas Mavericks need to be great?
“Health,” the forward said.
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The Mavericks have endured great injury misfortune since their 2024 NBA Finals run. Once known as an ironman, Washington has played in just 56 and 57 games over the last two seasons, respectively. It’s the lowest amount for the eighth-year forward since he appeared in 58 games as a rookie in 2019-20.
Washington spent the majority of his offseason prioritizing his 3-point shot, but he dedicated just as much time to ensuring his body was ready for the rigors of another 82-game schedule.
“For me, the biggest thing I really wanted to focus on was the weight room,” Washington said. “Just trying to be in there every day and do something to stay consistent and just trying to help my body. Obviously, the last few years have been tough for me staying on the floor, so that’s all I’ve been worrying about and that’s the biggest thing I wanted to do this year, is be more healthy and be more available for my guys.”
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) reacts after a dunk during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers at American Airlines Center on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Dallas. The Clippers defeated the Mavericks 138-131.
Elías Valverde II/Staff Photographer
When healthy, Washington is one of the most valuable Mavericks. He averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocks last season despite missing 26 games.
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Washington’s value extends to both sides of the court. He can finish at the rim and create advantages based on mismatches with smaller or taller defenders. His defense may be his most valuable strength, as he can contest and block shots with precision, while also disrupting offenses with deflections and steals.
“We’ve gotten a little bit of everything out of P.J.,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said. “He’s someone that checks a lot of boxes. If you want to play small lineup, he can play the [center position]. He could play the [small forward position] in a bigger lineup. We need his physicality. We need his basketball instincts. He’s a quick thinker. Defensively, he knows what to do at all times. We gotta get him to use his voice a little more to share his knowledge with the group, but he’s going to help us.”
Once a promising young wing with two-way upside, Washington has evolved into a veteran and one of the most physical players in the NBA. He’s experienced playoff droughts in Charlotte, a Finals run in his first couple of months with the Mavericks and the turmoil of the last couple of seasons. He’s gained enough perspective to help his teammates, and he plans to use his voice more often this season.
“It means a lot more now,” Washington said. “For me, I think that’s going to be my biggest transition through the year, is making sure I’m a helping hand on the floor and off the floor for the guys.”
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington cheers as guard Ryan Nembhard is interviewed after a victory over the Chicago Bulls in an NBA basketball game at American Airlines Center on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
The area of Washington’s game with the most room for improvement extends to the 3-point line. Last season was one of Washington’s worst from beyond the arc. He was just 32.5% from 3-point range after producing one of his best perimeter shooting seasons in 2024-25, when he made 38.1% of his triples.
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He’ll have plenty of opportunities to be the beneficiary of open looks this season because of Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving’s gravity on offense.
“I think it’s great for me and great for the team when I can hit the 3-ball at a consistent rate,” Washington said. “It opens the floor for a lot of us. Teams gotta guard me out there, and obviously I’ll have more driving lanes and more ways to create for others. For me, my biggest thing is trying to stay upright and get the ball out the same way every single time.”
Under the previous coaching staff, Washington was a staple in the Mavericks’ first unit with 137 starts in 142 appearances. He’s a candidate to retain his role with the starters because of his two-way versatility, May has said. Last week, Washington said his priority lies in winning, not whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Asked PJ Washington if he still cared about starting/coming off the bench as he enters Year 8:
“My biggest thing is winning, whether I’m starting or not. I’ve been on so many losing teams. I’ve been to the playoffs one time in my career…I just want to turn that around & get to… pic.twitter.com/hmfQFTAXES
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) October 1, 2026
“My biggest thing is winning, whether I’m starting or not,” he said. “I’ve been on so many losing teams. I’ve been to the playoffs one time in my career, so for me, I just want to turn that around and get to the playoffs and just win. … I feel like if I’m starting or not, I can make an impact on the floor whenever I’m out there.”
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