Mavericks Shine Without Luka

Trading away a 26-year-old generational star at his peak—right after he led the team to the NBA Finals—sounds unbelievable. However, for Dallas Mavericks’ general manager Nico Harrison, it was a calculated decision. Harrison recently traded point guard Luka Dončić—their star player with a career average of 28.6 points per game—in exchange for power forward Anthony Davis, shooting guard Max Christie, and a future first-round draft pick. In an interview with WFAA, former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban captured public sentiment by stating that he “didn’t agree with” trading their franchise player. He contended that the team should have held out for a better deal in exchange for Dončić. In spite of these negative opinions, the Mavericks bet this gamble will pay off in the long run. 

Dončić was the Mavericks’s cornerstone, often playing as a point guard with exceptional offense. He was the team’s dominating force, leading them to the 2024 NBA Finals and averaging 29 points over just five games. Dončić’s ability to control the pace of the game, create scoring opportunities, and deliver in clutch moments was monumental to the Mavericks’s performance. During the 2024 season, he demolished any player opposing him, averaging an impressive 27.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game against some of the league’s best. His departure left a massive void in the team’s offensive structure and leadership, significantly disrupting team chemistry. The Mavericks’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers highlighted the Mavs’ lack of teamwork: they struggled without Luka and managed only 95 points—a season low—bringing an end to their franchise-record streak of 26 consecutive wins with at least 100 points. 

Dončić thrived as a highlight of the team. However, in his absence the Mavericks remain competitive with a record of 37:39 win-to-loss ratio this season, currently in ninth place in the Western Conference. The Mavericks originally had the fourth spot in the Western Conference when Dončić had a calf injury, and his absence brought the team down to 11th place. A starter like Dončić frequently getting injured only created disorder, leaving the point-guard position empty. In contrast, following Dončić’s departure, the team began an upward trend and raised their ranking by two places. 

 In the midst of arguably the most controversial trade in NBA history, former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal agreed with Harrison’s point of view. “For the next two years, I think Dallas won that trade,” O’Neal said during sports talk show NBA on TNT. 

Former Mavericks shooting guard and small forward Vince Carter agreed with this sentiment: “Dallas, right now, is ready to roll.” The sports talk show’s host, Stephen A. Smith, added his own bold vote of confidence: “I got Dallas as the number one seed in the Western Conference right now.”

In spite of Dončić’s absence, the Mavericks have had a backup plan all along. The team’s lineup consists of players including point guard Kyrie Irving, power forward P.J. Washington, shooting guard Klay Thompson, and center Daniel Gafford. Irving, the Mavericks’s current star, averages 23.7 points per game and plays as a primary ball handler in place of Dončić; players like P.J. Washington take places in the paint; Klay Thompson marks the wings for deep shots. With the additional recruitment of Davis—who recently scored 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists over the Brooklyn Nets—the lineup is significantly stronger in all aspects, setting up a strong foundation for future success. 

For the Mavericks, a major benefit of this trade is the boost in their defensive structure. “I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison said. Some, including Harrison, believed that Dončić’s lackluster defense and slow pace hindered the team’s overall performance. Dončić also struggled with recurring lower-body injuries and fitness issues, which were not in line with the Mavericks’s need for a consistent, reliable player in the point guard position. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance,” Harrison said.

As the Mavericks gradually adapt to their new lineup, the team may secure a solid spot in the Western Conference, likely qualifying for the playoffs in the end. “We understand what Luka has meant to the Mavericks, and we wish him and his family the best in L.A.. Same with Maxi and Smooth, but we have to push forward, and we believe we have a team that can do that,” head coach Jason Kidd said. Although trading away a generational star like Dončić remains a highly debated move, the Mavericks are determined to forge a new identity. With a stronger defensive core and a reconstructed lineup, the Mavericks embrace the challenge of proving that success is possible without their former cornerstone. Only time will tell if this gamble cements their future—or becomes a move they’ll regret.