Cooper Flagg #32 of Dallas Mavericks dunks during NBA China Games 2026 between Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.
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You might remember – we hope you don’t – we were among the few who tried really hard to look on the sunny side of things when last season began. A mix of all-star veterans, a new fella named Cooper Flagg and a few months of healing from the Luka trade had us feeling unexpectedly positive about the season, although we weren’t predicting the club would truly compete for a title. But even our tempered, slightly tosy view took a quick, sour turn as the season seemed never to start for the Mavs.
Other than Flagg, who began to deliver on his promise and earned the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, the season was as dreary a slog as we’ve seen in many years. One relatively boring loss after another was too much, even for many of us who had decided to give the team another chance.
The Dallas Mavericks open the 2026-27 NBA season Wednesday night in Houston, hoping to put that miserable year behind them and give the fans who keep trickling back a reason to pay attention beyond watching Flagg develop into an even more impressive superstar.
A new coach is in town, the front office looks new, and the roster looks considerably different from the one that never came close to competing for a playoff spot last year, so that’s something, right?
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But we’re not wasting our time this season starting off with an undeservedly hopeful outlook, especially since plenty of questions remain. Chief among them is whether Kyrie Irving returns to form after missing last season.
Will the Mavericks be any good this season?
As we said above, we’re not holding our breath. Sorry if that’s not peppy or supportive enough. But the Mavericks finished 12th in the Western Conference last season, went 26 -56, and missed the playoffs. As usual, the Western Conference isn’t getting any easier. Have you seen what two of our closest neighbor teams, Oklahoma City and San Antonio, have been up to over the past two years while the Mavs have been losing?
Still, Dallas has some intriguing pieces. Flagg was the league’s most promising young player as a rookie, and Irving’s return gives the Mavericks a proven scorer and playmaker they badly missed last season. If both stay healthy, the team should be considerably more competitive.
The big question is how quickly everything comes together. New head coach Dusty May is making the jump from college basketball to the NBA after leading Michigan to the 2026 national championship. He’s a successful coach, but the NBA is a different animal, and he’ll have to balance an established veteran like Irving with a young star in Flagg and a group of new faces.
The FanDuel sportsbook prices the Mavs’ title chances at a whopping +35,000, which is in the bottom third of the league. Guess who has the two best odds? OKC and San Antonio. ESPN predicts the Mavs will again finish 12th in the West, missing the playoffs.
What changes have been made in the offseason?
A lot has changed. Aside from Flagg still being on the roster, the changes are the most encouraging elements for Dallas this season. Dallas has undergone a front-office overhaul, a coaching change, and a roster makeover that will help make this year’s Mavs a “new look” version.
Former Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri will now lead basketball operations and has brought in Mike Schmitz as general manager. Dusty May, who just won the NCAA men’s basketball championship at Michigan, succeeds Jason Kidd as head coach. To complement the new coach, Morez Johnson Jr., the star of his team at Michigan last year, joins the club as a first-round pick this summer.
Dallas added several new players, including forward Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, which gives the Mavericks another young player with plenty of upside.
There were departures, too. Dallas reached a buyout agreement with future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson, who never made the impact here everyone hoped for. And after 12 seasons, the Mavs released center Dwight Powell just days ago. His energetic play, resiliency and pre-game fashion rightfully made him a longtime fan favorite.
The big question is how impactful any of these additions can be if Irving and center Dereck Lively II don’t return from their major injuries and contribute substantially.
2 key players to watch
These may be obvious picks, but they’re essential to the team’s chances of any success. If either misses significant time due to injury or simply doesn’t meet expectations, the Mavs season could quickly mirror last year’s.
Cooper Flagg
The Mavericks’ future rests on Flagg, and for good reason. The former No. 1 overall pick had an impressive rookie season, showing the scoring ability, defensive versatility and all-around game that made him one of the most anticipated prospects in years.
Flagg finished his rookie campaign particularly strong, averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists over his final 26 full games. If he can carry that momentum into his sophomore season, he could go from promising young talent to established all-star sooner rather than later.
The next challenge is consistency. Opposing defenses will watch Flagg more closely, and he’ll need to keep improving as a playmaker while shouldering a larger share of the offensive workload. Barring miracles, Flagg’s development is the bigger long-term story than the team’s win-loss record this year.
Kyrie Irving
Irving’s return could be Dallas’s most consequential development this season. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s most skilled ball handlers and clutch scorers, able to create a shot against almost anyone. Prior to his 2024 injury, he could easily be the most dangerous player on the court on any given night.
But he missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL he suffered just after the Luka trade, so it’s understandable to wonder how quickly he’ll regain his old form and whether he can stay healthy over an 82-game schedule.
His partnership with Flagg will be fun to watch. For those who may have forgotten, Irving and Doncic didn’t gel immediately. Irving can take some of the offensive burden off Flagg, and Flagg’s versatility could make for a dynamic pairing if the two learn to play off each other.
How can I watch and stream the Mavericks on TV?
Good news for local fans: You don’t necessarily need an expensive cable package to watch the Mavericks this season. Unlike their AAC neighbors, the Mavs TV options are basically the same as they were last season. The team’s local broadcasts will be available on KFAA Channel 29, with select games also simulcast on WFAA Channel 8. Many multi-channel streamers like DirecTV Stream and cable providers carry KFAA locally.
For cord-cutting streamers, MavsTV+ will carry games not shown nationally. Fans outside the Dallas market can use NBA League Pass to watch most games, subject to the service’s usual blackout restrictions.
If you have the usual stable of popular streaming apps, you should be set for most, if not all, nationally televised Dallas games, spread across several networks and streaming services, including ESPN, Amazon Prime, and Peacock.
The season begins Wednesday, Oct. 21, when Dallas visits the Houston Rockets. The Mavericks’ first regular-season game at American Airlines Center is Saturday, Oct. 24, against the San Antonio Spurs.