Jason Kidd isn’t rushing to define what the Dallas Mavericks will look like this season. After a summer of change that included integrating Anthony Davis, developing Cooper Flagg’s point-forward role, and leaning into one of the league’s biggest lineups, Kidd said Monday that identity will take time.

“We’re a work in progress,” Kidd said. “That’s why you’ve got to play the games. We’ve talked about what we want to accomplish, but we have to earn that identity. We want to play faster — we’re big — but there are other areas we want to improve, too.”

Finding Balance Between Size and Pace

The Mavericks have gone all in on length, pairing Davis and Dereck Lively II in the frontcourt with the 18-year-old Flagg serving as a primary playmaker. The combination offers elite rim protection but presents a challenge in maintaining tempo.

Kidd emphasized that playing fast doesn’t have to rely on smaller lineups. Instead, he pointed to passing as the key to speed.

“With the pass,” he said when asked how to keep pace with size. “The ball travels faster than someone running. We’ve got to use that, and with Cooper and P.J. handling the ball, it puts us in a faster rhythm than expected. Their size and dribbling speed have helped us.”

Flagg’s composure and versatility have quickly stood out to Kidd, who plans to start him as a point forward in his NBA debut Wednesday against San Antonio.

“Technically, we’ll list him as a point guard,” Kidd said. “But it’s really more of a point-forward situation. For an 18-year-old, he’s very mature and understands what we’re asking.”

Setting Realistic Benchmarks

Kidd said it will take roughly 10 to 20 games for the Mavericks to truly know who they are. The early part of the schedule — a five-game homestand — will give Dallas time to evaluate combinations and rotation roles before things ramp up in November.

“You look at the first 10, everybody’s eager, everybody’s undefeated,” Kidd said. “Then you kind of settle into a rotation so guys know when they’re coming in and coming out. After 20, you probably have an identity because you have a bigger sample size. The first 10 are important, but we’ll take it one game at a time.”

That patience will be crucial for a team blending multiple former All-Stars with young players. Kidd and his staff have used camp to experiment with lineups, evaluate pace, and refine defensive communication — all while missing key contributors like Danté Exum and Daniel Gafford, who’s close to returning from an ankle sprain.

Shared Mindset

P.J. Washington echoed Kidd’s theme earlier in the week, saying the team’s focus is on development and chemistry rather than early projections.

“We’re trying to build ourselves to get there,” Washington said. “For us, it’s about being physical on defense and trying to be the same way on offense — making the right play, playing together. That’s what the season’s for.”

As the Mavericks prepare to open the season against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, Kidd’s approach is clear — no shortcuts, no forced definitions.

“It’s going to take time,” he said. “But we’ve got the parts, and when everyone’s healthy, we’ll find out what this group can be.”

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