Since Luka Doncic’s departure, the Dallas Mavericks have given a miserable picture.
It is in the nature of man to remember beautiful times. Happy times, but above all also successful and those without problems. The fans of the Dallas Mavericks are currently likely to do so.
Think of the good old days when superstar Dirk Nowitzki succeeded in the first and so far only NBA title in 2011. After the 4: 2 in the final series against Miami Heat, the lucky frenzy in the Texas metropolis was perfect at the time.
The times with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are over during the Mavericks
There is currently no way of a frenzy of happiness in the MAVS. Quite the opposite. Viewed, the team is a franchise in ruins. As a symbol, the 116: 125 bankruptcy against the Phoenix Suns is a few days ago.
Mavericks with a long list of injuries
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Head Coach Jason Kidd stunned after the game. “I have never experienced a game in which we couldn’t take anyone out to give him a break because we had no one that we could use.”
Kidd added: “If the players did not wear casual clothes, they had to be sewn or could not move or run. It’s hard. “
The Mavs went into the game with lean nine players, while the game lost other players – in a very different way. Brandon Williams suffered a thigh injury, Dante Exum and Caleb Martin later had to get off the parquet due to the minute restrictions.
The negative highlight was the collision between Kessler Edwards and Dwight Powell. The latter had to be sewn and could no longer return, Edwards came back over the eye with an association in the last quarter. The last possible change for head coach Kidd.
Doncic-Trade shocked basketball world
The Mavericks are experiencing an extraordinary misery these days. A misery that started on February 1, 2025. The day on which the MAVs made the incredible decision for fans, observers and opponents to give Luka Doncic.
After the NBA draft 2018, in which the Atlanta Hawks selected three positions, Doncic via Trade came to Dallas. The highly gifted point Guard was to act as the next franchise player and lead the team to the championship.
This almost succeeded. The Slovenian quickly became a fan favorite, last year the Mavs were even in the finals, in which they were subject to the Boston Celtics.
But the direction was clear: with Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Klay Thompson, who came before the season, was finally to succeed in 2025.
Then the Doncic trade shocked the basketball world.
Cuban doesn’t understand Trade
“If you want to trade Luka, that’s one thing,” said ex-Owner Mark Cuban at WFAA . The 66-year-old, who had sold most of his shares in December 2023 and now only acted as a minority owner, is particularly terrifying for Doncic.
“That shouldn’t sound disrespectful towards Anthony Davis, but I am sure that we would talk about the deal very differently if we got Anthony Davis, Max Christie and four unprotected first rounders. We simply had to complete a better deal, ”he said.
In addition to Davis, the Mavs only got a first-round pick 2029, and in addition to Doncic they also emitted Maximilian Kleber and Markieff Morris.
“Win Now” failed after injuries
For Cuban, the external presentation of those responsible is also bad. “Everyone makes mistakes. The problem is that nobody is currently communicating openly. It’s not just about what you do. You have to explain why you are doing certain things, ”he said.
General Manager Nico Harrison, who defended the Doncic deduction, is responsible for the more than just questionable decision that the franchise is pursuing a “win now” plan. “Time will show whether I was right.”
A good month later, “Win Now” failed. Skin crashing. In his first game for the Mavericks, Davis suffered an injury. The Big you have failed since then. And it didn’t get any better, on the contrary. A little later, Superstar Irving caught it with a cruciate ligament rupture, the year 2025 was sporty for him.
Playoffs for the MAVS unrealistic
The MAVs are currently in the Western Conference on the last Play-in-Platz. It is questionable whether you can hold this. And even if, a move into the playoffs is anything but realistic.
In Dallas there is currently a state of emergency. Doncic away, injured without end – and then an increase in ticket prices by almost ten percent. The fans run storm and particularly attack GM Harrison. Shortly after the Doncic trade, followers of the franchise were thrown out of the arena when they demanded the dismissal of General Manager.
Player father with sharp criticism
But that’s not all. In the meantime, criticism from the family environment, more precisely from Mychal Thompson – also comes to Klay Thompson’s father of new summer.
“He thought with Luka and Kyrie he had a chance to get back to the finals,” said Papa Thompson at ESPN .
“Luka is obviously no longer there. I then told him: ‘Well, when Anthony Davis comes for it, you still have a chance to get into the finals. Because ad is so good. ‘ But then he was injured! And then Daniel Gafford and Dereck LIVELY also injured themselves. So yes, Klay is currently in purgatory … I think you will lose ten times in a row. “
Klay Thompson remains optimistic
An assumption that was not confirmed. After five bankruptcies, a victory against the even worse placed San Antonio Spurs recently achieved a victory. And Thompson Junior also tried to put his father’s words into perspective.
“We still have big goals and want to start a run. I believe in the franchise, ”he said after the victory against the Spurs. “We show as much heart as we can. And it is a joy to move into the battle with which the jersey can cover. ” However, he does not currently have many teammates to choose from.
For Thompson it is clear: “After this season I am two more seasons at the MAVs.” And for those two seasons, the Mavericks professional has a great wish: “I would love to lead them back to the glorious times, as they prevailed in 2011.”
An understandable desire, which is currently only seemingly utopian wishful thinking.