Count ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith among those that believe the 2025-26 Dallas Mavericks can accomplish big things.
Smith appeared on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast and had some bold thoughts on the new-look Mavs as they enter their first full season without Luka Doncic. He believes that, if healthy, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg can lead the Mavericks to a championship.
“If Kyrie Irving comes back healthy and Anthony Davis is healthy, I think Dallas should be the favorite to win it all,” Smith said.
“I believe that the Dallas Mavericks, if healthy, will win the ‘chip.”
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That’s a big caveat, as Irving is still working his way back from a torn ACL and there is not a set timeline on when he might be back in the lineup this season. He tore his ACL in early March of last season, so the 33-year-old guard should be back at some point during the regular season.
Smith thinks that Dallas’ 2024 run to the Finals showed why they can go on another deep run, despite the fact that Doncic, who carried that team, is now a Los Angeles Laker.
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“Oklahoma [City] is the reigning, defending champion,” Smith explained. “They pretty much had their way with most teams this year before the Finals before it was pushed to seven games. But not Dallas. The year before, they took Oklahoma City out. Kyrie and those boys is that kryptonite.”
Smith believes in the roster that has been assembled as the post-Doncic era begins in full.
Dallas’ roster presents size at versatility throughout the roster. If Irving can return to his dominant level of play he was playing at prior to the injury, the Mavericks have the ingredients of a formidable playoff team.
“Cooper Flagg can play. He’s just a rookie, but he can play,” Smith said. “Not only that, you’ve got Anthony Davis, who doesn’t have to play the five, I got news for you, [Dereck] Lively, [Daniel] Gafford and these brothers can play. Then you’ve got P.J. Washington, who can play. Jason Kidd can coach.”
The Mavericks will try to make Smith’s prediction come to fruition, starting with Wednesday night’s season opener against the San Antonio Spurs.
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.