Dusty May didn’t have to wait long to get a feel for one of the biggest pieces in Dallas.
The Mavericks’ new head coach was in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League on Thursday, and he spent part of that time with Kyrie Irving. May also got to watch Irving go through a workout, and the first impression clearly stuck with him.
“I spoke with Kyrie [Irving] and actually witnessed a workout this morning, and I felt like I left the gym watching Picasso paint a picture," May said during an appearance on ESPN's NBA Today. "We'll leave that [his return] up to later, but we're excited about Kyrie."
That’s a pretty striking image, and it came after a pretty striking hire by Dallas in the first place. Last month, the Mavericks reached into the college ranks and brought May over from Michigan, where he had just led the Wolverines to their first national championship in 37 years.
It’s a big jump, and it comes with plenty of pressure. Dallas has been through a messy stretch over the last 18 months, including back-to-back playoff misses after reaching the NBA Finals in 2024.
Still, May isn’t walking into a bare cupboard. The Mavericks have a few major building blocks in place, and the two names that matter most are Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Irving.
Irving missed the entire 2025-26 campaign while recovering from an ACL injury, and nothing has been officially confirmed yet about his status. Even so, there is an expectation that he’ll be in the lineup on opening night.
For now, the encouraging sign is that May came away impressed after seeing him work.
Irving’s game has always had the kind of flair that can change the feel of a night. His dribble package, his footwork, the way he can turn a possession into something almost artistic - that’s the kind of skill Dallas is hoping to lean on as it tries to steady itself.
And beyond the highlight-reel stuff, Irving has also grown into more of a leader. That wasn’t always the case earlier in his career, but he’s taken lessons from the past and has tried to pass them along to a young Mavericks group.
If Irving can still be close to his old self at 34 and coming off a knee injury, he’ll matter in more ways than one for Dallas - on the floor and in the locker room.
In Other News...
Mavericks Finally Got A Summer League Win But Fans Noticed This Too
The Mavericks finally broke through in Summer League, topping the Memphis Grizzlies 96-88 for their first win of the showcase. It was a useful night for a roster still sorting itself out, with Sergio De Larrea handling a bigger share of the offense and the second unit supplying plenty of help along the way.
De Larrea finished with 16 points and 12 assists, a line that stood out even more because Dallas was missing Morez Johnson Jr. and Ryan Nembhard. The bench did its part too, as Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Darin Green Jr. and Jaden Springer all reached double figures, giving the Mavericks a deeper look at who can carry real weight when the rotation thins out. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Have Quietly Found Another Hidden Gem On Draft Night
The Mavericks have spent the summer looking for value wherever they can find it, and one of the quieter draft-night moves may already be paying off. Dallas picked up draft rights to a late second-round selection from the Lakers for cash considerations, a low-cost swing that has started to look smarter by the day as the newcomer has flashed physicality, defense and enough versatility to stand out in Summer League.
He has also drawn positive remarks from the Mavericks Summer League staff after holding his own against tougher competition, the kind of early impression that can matter for a player trying to carve out a path. Dallas does not have an open roster spot right now, but the expectation is that he will get a training camp invite and a chance to keep forcing the issue for a place in the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Finally Have A Klay Thompson Decision To Make
Klay Thompson may have become a name to watch again in Dallas, where the Mavericks still have him on an expiring deal worth about $17.5 million next season. Miami is reportedly interested in bringing in the veteran shooter regardless of what LeBron James decides, and that kind of interest matters because Dallas would rather work out a trade than simply move on via buyout.
For the Mavericks, the appeal is obvious: Thompson still carries enough reputation as a high-end floor spacer to draw real attention, even if his contract makes any deal tricky. For Miami, the pursuit sits alongside a broader search for scoring options, with the Heat also keeping tabs on other veteran names as they sort through a crowded offseason board. [Read more 🡒]