Stephen A. Smith Explains How Mavericks Could Win NBA Title

Stephen A. Smith recently explained how the Dallas Mavericks could win the NBA championship next season. 

The Dallas Mavericks made the NBA Finals in 2023-2024, but the 2024-2025 season was a tumultuous mess for the team. Amid tons of controversy, the team traded away All-NBA franchise pillar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The thing is, the Mavericks didn't trade Doncic away for nothing. In return, the team received an All-NBA quality player in Anthony Davis, and a reliable bench scorer in Max Christie. 

Most importantly, the Mavericks won the NBA lottery and the chance to select Cooper Flagg, a generational prospect, with the first overall selection. Smith said of the team this morning on ESPN:

If Anthony Davis, if Kyrie Irving is healthy and [AD] brings his A game, the Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship. That's a big if. It's fluid; it can change. But it's legit, and everybody knows it. Because the one thing we're not going to say about AD is that the brother can't play."

As Smith notes, it all the players on the team are healthy, the Mavericks have a terrific toster starting with a big 3 of Flagg, Davis and Irving. Irving tore his ACL in February of last year and is sill working his way back. 

Dallas also has some impressive players rounding out its roster. Klay Thompson started 72 games for Dallas last year and shot 39% from three. Center Daniel Gafford provides scoring and rebounding punch to go along with shot-blocking ability. And long-time point guard D'Angelo Russell will be filling in for Irving while the star is on the mend.