As the Dallas Mavericks usher in their Cooper Flagg era, franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki is bullish on their chances of capitalizing on their two-timeline strategy. Still, the Hall of Famer’s optimism for the 2025-26 season hinges on one key factor breaking in Dallas’ favor.

Following their controversial roster shake-up at last season’s trade deadline, the Mavericks stumbled to an injury-riddled 39-win finish, led by superstar significant man acquisition Anthony Davis. His co-star, Kyrie Irving, suffered a torn left ACL in early March, cutting the star guard’s 14th campaign short and derailing the squad’s playoff hopes.

Dirk Nowitzki Highlights Key Question Facing Mavericks’ Star-Studded Core

Spearheaded by Davis and Irving, two injury-prone icons on the wrong side of 30, Dallas’ future appeared in the air. Fortunately for the aspiring Western Conference contender, it lucked out in this year’s NBA Draft Lottery, securing the No. 1 pick to draft Flagg despite possessing slim 1.8% odds. The team’s unexpected fortune has positioned it to compete now and in the years ahead, fueling anticipation for a potential bounce-back season.

During an appearance on Thursday’s episode of the “DLLS Mavs Podcast,” Nowitzki was asked to share his thoughts on Dallas’ new-look roster. The 2011 NBA champion raved about how lethal the unit can be, provided it avoids major injuries after Irving’s projected midseason return.

“If they’re healthy, they’re one of the deepest teams,” Nowitzki began (timestamp: 27:15). “I mean, if you look at just the frontcourt, how it’s loaded with talent, with players, the backcourt [too].

“I think they have two to three players on every position, especially when Kyrie comes back, and I saw him on social media, he’s already getting some shots up. So, you know he’s going to take care of his body and do everything he can to be out there. So, once he comes back and he’s the old Kyrie, this is a heck of a team that’s super loaded, and the main thing is, can they stay healthy for the long run?”

In addition to Irving’s injury situation, Davis has long struggled with durability, appearing in 56 or fewer games in four of the last five seasons. That said, when healthy, Irving’s ball handling and shot creation, Davis’ two-way interior presence, and Flagg’s versatility on the wing should be a lethal combination.

The Mavericks also boast an imposing frontcourt rotation featuring P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford. Meanwhile, veteran guards Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell could be poised for redemption campaigns, potentially allowing Dallas to hold down the fort in Irving’s absence.

Nowitzki Names Mavericks’ Biggest Western Conference Threat

Continuing his season preview, Nowitzki noted that only the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder stands out to him as a cut above Dallas in the West. Aside from OKC, the 14-time All-Star sees a viable pathway for his former team to defy expectations.

“They’re as deep as any team, but the West is tough,” Nowitzki said. “The West is tough, with OKC probably being the heavy favorites again going in, but other than that, two through eight, to me, is kind of wide open, and they have a great shot if they stay healthy to be up there and have home-court advantage.”

A top-four finish would likely ease Mavericks fans’ lingering frustrations about the organization’s stunning decision to pivot away from building around superstar guard Luka Dončić in favor of Davis. Even so, Dallas may take a lengthy postseason run to win back its disgruntled fan base fully.