Jason Kidd Reveals Interesting Lineup That The Dallas Mavericks Fielded In Training Camp

In his 19-year career, Jason Kidd made a name for himself as one of the most creative minds in the NBA. Now, the extraordinary playmaker is bringing his wisdom to a Dallas Mavericks squad that seeks to bounce back from an emotionally draining season.

Speaking to reporters at the Mavericks’ training camp, Kidd revealed a lineup that the team has experimented with. It’s an interesting five, to say the least.

“We had the big group out there, with Ryan running the point and Cooper, D-Li, AD, and PJ,” Kidd told the media.

Could this be the starting five on the Mavericks’ opening day? It’s a very, very promising lineup.

Here’s what the lineup consists of. In the backcourt, 6-foot-0 guard Ryan Nembhard brings toughness to the point guard position, while 6-foot-8-inch Cooper Flagg gives opposing shooting guards a matchup problem with his ability to score on the perimeter and in the shaded lane.

Meanwhile, the frontcourt packs plenty of length as 6-foot-7 PJ Washington occupies the other wing position, 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis offers excellent defense from the power forward spot, and 7-foot Dereck Lively II anchors the middle. 

Perhaps the scariest part of all this is a report from insider Marc Stein about Lively possibly growing to 7-foot-2 or 7-foot-3 this past summer. If Lively can stay healthy this season, he and Davis will be a fearsome defensive duo in the paint.

If Kidd sounded like he was flaunting this experiment, it’s because this lineup has tremendous potential as a unit with size, speed, and skill. Should Kidd and his coaching staff decide to field these players as their starting five, their bench would have a surplus of talent left, as the likes of Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, Max Christie, and D’Angelo Russell would be waiting in the wings.

Last season, the Mavericks scrambled to find their identity after shipping away Luka Doncic and watching Davis and Kyrie Irving go down with major injuries. Dallas missed the playoff bus at the end of the tumultuous 2024-25 campaign, but now, they appear locked and loaded for another shot at a potentially deep playoff run.