The Dallas Mavericks have seen their backcourt and wing rotation come alive early this season, with rookies like Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, and Ryan Nembhard stepping up in a big way. Add in steady contributions from veterans P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall, and you’ve got a perimeter group that’s playing with confidence and cohesion.
But while the guards are flying high, the frontcourt has been a different story.
Injuries have hit the Mavs’ big-man depth hard - and the results have shown. Rim protection has slipped, interior scoring has been inconsistent, and the rotation is running thin.
Anthony Davis has been a force when available, but his limited appearances tell the story: availability has been a major issue. Daniel Gafford’s lingering ankle injury continues to slow him down, and with Dereck Lively II officially ruled out for the season, Dallas is running out of options in the paint.
Enter Moussa Cisse - a name Mavs fans might want to get familiar with.
The 6-foot-11 rookie center is on a two-way contract, splitting time between the Mavericks and their G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. And while he’s still raw in some areas, his recent performance suggests he might be more than just a developmental project.
In his debut with the Legends on Saturday, Cisse made a loud statement: 16 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks. That’s not just a good night - that’s the kind of game that turns heads. Scouts who had labeled him “not NBA-ready” might want to revisit that take.
Cisse’s offensive game still needs refining - his touch around the rim and decision-making under pressure are works in progress - but when it comes to energy, rebounding, and rim protection, he brings exactly what this depleted Dallas frontcourt needs. And right now, the Mavs don’t have the luxury of waiting for perfection. They need impact, and Cisse is showing early signs he can provide it.
“It just felt good to play basketball again,” Cisse said after the game, clearly energized by the opportunity to get extended minutes. “Just coming out here and getting some reps and playing, it felt good. I was out there having fun.”
That fun translated into production - and momentum. The Legends were down early against the Austin Spurs, but Cisse’s energy in the second half helped spark a comeback win, 126-122.
“It was just my energy,” he said. “That’s what I do - bring the energy.
We were down in the first half and I came in and told the guys they’re scoring in the first half and we can do the same thing in the second half. All we got to do is fix a little thing -- rebounding and playing defense and cut the turnovers down.
And we went over there and executed and the results were great. It was a team effort.”
It wasn’t just the players on the floor who were invested - several Mavericks teammates made the trip to Frisco to support Cisse in person. Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Ryan Nembhard, Dwight Powell, and Brandon Williams were all in the building, showing love from the sidelines.
“They told me they were going to come and I didn’t believe it,” Cisse said. “So seeing them, that was love. Those are my brothers, so it felt good to see them out here supporting me.”
Legends head coach Max Hooper came away impressed, too.
“Moussa’s intensity, effort, energy and activity was excellent -- off the charts,” Hooper said. “Just a little bit of a learning curve on what the Legends are doing specifically, but overall I’m super happy with him.”
Cisse’s path forward is still fluid - the nature of his two-way deal means he could be bouncing between Dallas and the G-League depending on team needs. But his mindset is exactly where it needs to be.
“One thing about me is I’m always ready,” he said. “You’ve got to take it game-by-game.
You’ve got to stay ready every time. Whenever your number is called, you don’t know when it’s going to be called, especially guys in my situation.
I can be out here today [with the Legends] and then tomorrow I’m traveling with [the Mavs]. You just got to be ready and have a good preparation.”
And when his number was called in Monday’s overtime loss to the Utah Jazz, he answered - posting six points on 50 percent shooting, grabbing seven boards, and adding a block in just 13 minutes of action. His minutes have been sporadic this season - averaging just 10 per game over 19 appearances - but when you stretch his production out to per-36 numbers, the potential jumps off the page: 10.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and over 60 percent shooting.
That’s the kind of upside that makes you wonder: could Cisse be the spark this frontcourt needs?
Dallas doesn’t need him to be a star right now. They need him to be solid.
To bring energy, crash the glass, protect the rim, and play his role with confidence. If his G-League debut is any indication, he’s ready to do just that - and maybe a little more.
For a Mavericks team searching for answers in the paint, Moussa Cisse might just be the unexpected solution hiding in plain sight.