The Mavericks might be the team best positioned to make San Antonio work next season.
Dallas already had the kind of offseason that changes the conversation a little: more size, more depth, and a roster built to make the Spurs feel less comfortable around the rim. Add in Cooper Flagg’s potential second-year jump, and suddenly the matchup with Victor Wembanyama has a lot more bite than it did a year ago.
Last season was all Spurs, all the time. San Antonio went 4-0 against Dallas and didn’t leave any doubt, winning each game by double digits. The Mavericks never solved the Spurs’ offense, and they were beaten up on the scoreboard every time, allowing more than 125 points in all four meetings.
That should be a tougher act to repeat.
Dallas now has the kind of frontcourt bodies that matter against San Antonio. Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II give them size and shot-blocking, and both were key pieces in the Mavericks’ 2024 Finals run. Lively II’s situation still carries a major caveat, though: there is no timetable for his return after the season-ending right foot injury he suffered in 2025.
Even so, the roster has more options than it did before. Morez Johnson Jr. and Moussa Cisse add more length and toughness inside, giving Dallas multiple bigs who can rebound, defend, and at least try to make life uncomfortable for Wembanyama. That’s the starting point for any team hoping to hang with the Spurs.
And then there’s Flagg.
The four head-to-head meetings between Flagg and Wembanyama already tilt toward the Spurs star. Wembanyama averaged 31.3 points and 12.5 rebounds in those games, while Flagg put up 22.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. That’s a clear edge, but not necessarily a closed book.
Flagg can make those matchups far more competitive if his perimeter shot takes a real step forward. He was already a strong scorer as a rookie, and the source of his best games against San Antonio last season was easy to spot: both 30-point outings came when he knocked down more than 40% of his three-point attempts.
Dallas also has help on the way. Kyrie Irving is set to return, and his ability to handle the ball and create shots should ease some of the pressure on Flagg. That could mean cleaner looks and better scoring efficiency for the young forward.
The Mavericks still may not be on San Antonio’s level. But they look deeper, healthier, and better built to push back. With Flagg on the rise and a sturdier roster around him, Dallas has a chance to turn a lopsided matchup into something a lot more competitive.
In Other News...
Spurs Arena Plan Now Hinges On A San Antonio Funding Fight
San Antonios push for a new Spurs arena has entered a more complicated phase, with the project now tied to a city budget debate as much as a sports one. City council had already approved $489 million in municipal bond funding, but the citys projected deficit has reopened the question of how that money should be handled and how much public backing still exists for the plan.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is now seeking to have residents reauthorize the citys share of arena funding on the November ballot, and the council is scheduled to vote on whether to put the matter in front of voters. Even if that does not happen, the process is not over, because residents would still have to cast another vote to issue city bonds for the first phase of construction, leaving the arena effort caught between political timing and a required public test. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Rookie Carter Bryant Faced A Brutal Early Test Behind The Scenes
Brian Wright used the 14th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Carter Bryant, and the Spurs did not ease their rookie in gently once practice began. Early on, Bryant had to deal with the kind of behind-the-scenes assignment that can expose a young player fast, as he learned the pace, physicality and details that come with defending established NBA talent in a Spurs gym.
The trial-by-fire helped Bryant settle in as the season went on, and his growth showed up when the games mattered most. By the playoffs, he had carved out a real role off the bench, giving San Antonio useful minutes and spacing while continuing to benefit from the lessons he picked up against teammates in practice. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Face One Big Question Behind Their Offseason Momentum
The Spurs spent the offseason adding more layers to a roster that already had promise, bringing in Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed through the draft, signing Tobias Harris and keeping Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes in the fold. On paper, it looks like the kind of steady summer that can help a young team build on momentum, especially with Victor Wembanyama already giving San Antonio a defensive backbone few teams can match.
The bigger question now sits on the sideline, where the staff looks different even as the roster grows deeper. Sean Sweeney, who played a major role in sharpening that defense, is gone after taking a head coaching job in Orlando, leaving Billy Donovan to sort out how much of last seasons identity can carry over without him. For a Spurs team trying to turn offseason progress into a real step forward, that coaching change may matter as much as any addition. [Read more 🡒]