Stephen A. Smith has big expectations for the Dallas Mavericks, with one exception. During a recent episode of First Take, the ESPN media star delivered a bold take on the upcoming season, claiming the Mavericks will win the 2026 NBA title if Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving are healthy and at their best come playoff time.
“If Anthony Davis, if Kyrie Irving is healthy and [AD] brings his A game, the Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship,” Stephen A. said. “That’s a big if. It’s legit and everybody knows it.”
The NBA community is still split on how the Mavericks stack up to the rest of the Western Conference, but it seems Stephen A. has placed his full confidence in their success. Coming off the infamous Luka Doncic trade, the Mavericks have something to prove next season, and they are determined to show that their championship window is still very much open.
Last season, they were only able to finish 11th in the standings at 39-43 before they were defeated by the Grizzlies in the play-in tournament. Marred by injuries, distractions, and a blockbuster mid-season trade, there are plenty of reasons why the Mavs failed to meet expectations, but there are reasons to think they are better-positioned for success in the 2025-26 campaign.
As Stephen A. said, Anthony Davis is the key to their victory. He'll be at full health and full strength for opening night, and if he can just stay healthy through most of the season (and throughout the playoffs), he may be able to elevate his game and make up much of what they lost by trading Luka. He's clearly locked in and devoted to his new team, and he's ready to make it count and do what he never could with the Pelicans.
With averages of 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 51.6% shooting last season, Davis showed he can still be a leader both on and off the court. While his playing time in Dallas was limited, he played enough to get a feel for the team and build up at least some chemistry with his new teammates.
Alongside role-players like Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, and Jaden Hardy, Davis will have a lot of support, and his dominance in the paint will help open up the floor for everybody.
The only problem with the Mavericks' ambitions is Kyrie Irving. While he'd normally be a major boost offensively, how much he actually plays this upcoming season is still a mystery. He tore his ACL in March and has been in recovery ever since. It's unknown if/when we can expect him back in the 2025-26 campaign, but it'll be tough for them to go far without him after posting 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 47.3% shooting last season.
Ultimately, only time will tell if the Mavericks are true contenders in the West. On paper, they have everything they need to be competitive, but the same could also be said when they had Luka Doncic, who is a top-three player in the world right now. Whatever Stephen A. sees in this group must be special for him to pick them amid so much uncertainty, but they will do everything in their power to prove him right and justify the major risk they took just a few months ago.
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