The first two picks in the 2025 NBA draft are reportedly in line to face each other on opening night of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks’ provisional schedule shows that they are slated to host the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 22 in one of the league’s season-opening games.
The Mavs selected forward Cooper Flagg out of Duke with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, while the Spurs took Rutgers guard Dylan Harper second overall.
Entering the 2025-26 season, the Mavericks and Spurs look to be two of the most intriguing teams in the NBA, as their range of outcomes could conceivably go from championship contender to out of the playoffs in the Western Conference.
After reaching the NBA Finals in 2024, the Mavs took a big step backward last season, and that was due in large part to the decision to trade superstar guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package headlined by Anthony Davis.
Davis got injured shortly after the trade and guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL, leaving Dallas in a difficult spot.
The Mavericks ended up finishing 39-43, and they got knocked out in the postseason play-in tournament, causing them to miss the playoffs.
Missing the playoffs got them into the draft lottery, though, and they shockingly won it despite having amongst the lowest odds to do so.
In winning the lottery, the Mavericks secured the reigning Naismith College Player of the Year in Flagg, who was as good as advertised and even better during his freshman campaign at Duke.
In Dallas, Flagg will join a trio of potential future Hall of Famers in Davis, Irving and Klay Thompson, plus a deep frontcourt that includes P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, and a veteran guard in D’Angelo Russell, who can fill in for Irving until he is healthy.
The Spurs’ entire outlook changed in 2023 when they used the No. 1 overall pick in the draft to take center Victor Wembanyama, who was one of the most hyped prospects in years.
When healthy, the 7’3″ big man has not disappointed, as he boasts averages of 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.7 blocks, 2.3 three-pointers made and 1.2 steals during his young career.
However, deep vein thrombosis cut his 2024-25 season short after 46 games, and the Spurs ended up finishing 34-48, which was not as big of an improvement as hoped.
There is plenty of reason for optimism next season and beyond, though, as Wembanyama is expected to return healthy, flanked by a potentially elite backcourt.
Stephon Castle was named NBA Rookie of the Year last season, and the Spurs acquired one-time All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings last season as well.
On top of that, San Antonio took Harper second overall in the 2025 draft after he impressed to the tune of averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 three-pointers made and 1.4 steals per game as a freshman.
It remains to be seen how Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson plans to divvy up the backcourt minutes, but none in the NBA has the depth of talent that San Antonio’s does.
Of the teams that missed the playoffs in the Western Conference last season, the Mavericks and Spurs likely have the best chance to make it in 2025-26, and the result of their first game could very well set the tone for how their respective seasons go.