After two preseason games, Sergio De Larrea has done plenty to quiet the biggest question hanging over his arrival in Dallas: is he ready to play real minutes for the Mavericks?
That concern made sense after Summer League. The Mavericks traded up to take the rookie point guard with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and in Las Vegas he flashed the kind of passing that jumps off the screen. De Larrea averaged 8.8 assists per game to lead all players at Summer League, using his vision to thread alley-oop passes, read defenses with his eyes and get teammates easy looks.
But the doubts were there too. He shot just 20 percent from three over four games, didn’t show much burst getting past defenders and his handle looked shaky at times.
The talent was obvious. The certainty wasn’t.
That picture has changed quickly in Macao, China.
De Larrea opened his NBA preseason by scoring 11 points with two rebounds, six assists and one steal, while hitting all three of his 3-point attempts. He looked comfortable as a catch-and-shoot threat, made the right decisions in transition and showed encouraging chemistry with Dallas’ big men.
He followed that up with another strong outing, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in the Mavericks’ second game in Macao. He again pushed the pace in transition, made another three, and added a couple of clean finishes around the rim. One of the clearest signs of growth came in the fourth quarter, when he buried a left-handed reverse layup and showed he’s willing to be assertive and create his own shot when the offense calls for it.
Preseason numbers always come with a warning label, but the early signs are hard to ignore. De Larrea looks like he belongs, the jumper is pure, and he’s already one of the best passers on the team.
Dallas may need that right away, too. Marcus Sasser is the only other true point guard on the roster outside of Kyrie Irving, and a role could be there for De Larrea on opening night.
The Mavericks’ offseason emphasis on wing depth instead of another point guard may have been a quiet show of trust in him from the start. After these two preseason games, that trust looks well placed.
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