DEC 9 KYRIE SPEAKS ON FOOT INJURY – After hoping for the best but bracing for the worst, the Dallas Mavericks got some encouraging news on Saturday, as Kyrie Irving’s foot injury from Friday night’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers was determined as being a “heel contusion.”
Irving will still likely miss at least a game or two, barring a change in his “significant pain” in the coming days, but the eight-time All-Star took to social media to assure fans that he will “be fine” going forward.
“To my Tribe and Family Members: I appreciate all of the prayers, well -wishes, and messages The unconditional Love shown from you all is truly appreciated. I am feeling better than I was yesterday and for now, that’s all I can ask for. I’ll be fine. Chief Hélà,” Irving posted on X.
DEC 9 MAVS SUPERFAN DON KNOBLER PASSES AWAY – Following the Dallas Mavericks’ 125-112 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Dallas Morning News reporter Brad Townsend reported on Thursday morning that Mavs superfan Don Knobler has passed away.
Knobler was often seen sitting courtside at Mavs games, wearing some of the most crazy and colorful outfits you could imagine. Some Mavs fans might remember Knobler from his 2018 controversy with then-Los Angeles Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley. Beverley was fighting for the ball with then-Mavs point guard Dennis Smith Jr., resulting in DSJ chipping a tooth. Knobler and Beverley had things to say to each other after that as the Mavs ultimately went on to beat the Clippers, 114-110.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
One thing is for sure – there will never be another Mavs courtside character quite like Don Knobler. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
DEC 6 LUKA UPSETS JAZZ ROLE PLAYER — When a team gets beat as badly as the Utah Jazz did on Wednesday night, there’s naturally going to be some hard feelings.
The Dallas Mavericks blew out the Jazz by 50 points, led by Luka Doncic’s 40-point, history-making triple-double — one that was already a 29-point triple-double before halftime started.
In the third quarter, Doncic swung a pass to the corner for a Derrick Jones 3-pointer, and Jazz role player Kris Dunn apparently took offense to that, as he got in Doncic’s face pointing his finger at him. Doncic walked away, but was still somehow hit with a technical foul due to double techs being called.
In leaked footage of the interactions, you can see and hear Doncic pleading his case, saying he didn’t do anything to deserve a tech and that Dunn was “just mad that I’m busting his a**!”
Never change, Luka… Never change.
DEC 3 DERECK LIVELY II POSTERIZES CHET HOLMGREN – Despite not being able to pull off a 24-point comeback against the OKC Thunder on Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks are still leaving with something. With just a minute remaining in the second quarter, Mavs rookie big man Dereck Lively II put fellow rookie Chet Holmgren on a poster that got the American Airlines Center crowd on its feet.
Lively made some NBA history on Saturday, finishing with a career-high 20 points on 9-9 shooting to go with 16 rebounds and seven blocks. He became the first NBA player to achieve those stats as a teenager.
Holmgren finished with 11 points on 4-10 shooting to go with 11 rebounds and five blocks. Although Lively is now 1-1 against the Rookie of the Year frontrunners in Victor Wembanyama and Holmgren, he’s outplayed both of them in their head-to-head games so far this season.
NOV 29 MORE CUBAN MAVS SALE TALK – If you didn’t get enough from our extensive DallasBasketball.com or Mavs Step Back Podcast coverage of Mark Cuban selling a majority stake of the Dallas Mavericks, you can also listen to DBcom boss man Mike Fisher give his take on the news.
Fish joined 105.3 The Fan’s “Shan and RJ” to talk about the sale, including the unique details that suggest Cuban will still have control of the team despite selling majority stake. Fish also dives into who the Adelson family is, and why this move could be strategic for Cuban’s future Mavs area/casino plans. You can listen to the entire segment here:
NOV 28 CUBAN SELLING? Mark Cuban is selling a “significant stake” in the Dallas Mavs, according to a report that notes that the arrangement would have the DFW-based billionaire “continue to retain operational control of the team.”
The report, via plugged-in NBA writer Marc Stein, says “The Adelson family is in the process” of buying its way into part of the ownership group of the franchise, which has been owned by Cuban since 2000.
Cuban has a vision for the team’s future arena that mirrors that of a Las Vegas-style casino and resort … and it so happens that the Las Vegas Sands is owned by the Adelson family, with Miriam, widow of Sheldon, worth $32 billion.
Miriam recently sold $2 billion of her Sands stock with the intention of investing in a sports franchise.
NOV 24 LEBRON on LUKA The Mavs were clutch against the Lakers on Thanksgiving Eve in L.A., winning 104-101. … all of which left LeBron James impressed – as usual – with Luka Doncic.
Luka led all scorers with 30 points in the win and also totaled 13 rebounds and eight assists. James, who led the Lakers with 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the loss, was asked about Doncic’s future. Where can Luka go?
“Wherever he wants to,” LeBron said. “It’s up to him. It’s without question: It’s up to him.”
Luka did indeed do some magical things here, once even “nutmegging” the great LeBron.
The Mavs moved to 10-5 on the season and dropped the Lakers to 9-7. to improve to 10-5.
OCT 9 REAL MADRID POSTS HEARTWARMING LUKA VIDEO – On Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks will take on Real Madrid in an exhibition game at the WiZink Center in Madrid at 1:45 p.m. CT. Although this is just a preseason game, it means more for Mavs star Luka Doncic, as Real Madrid is the team he joined when he was just 13 years old and ultimately won the EuroLeague championship and MVP at 19 years old before leaving for the NBA.
“I’ve been thinking about this game since they told me we’re going to play there,” Doncic said. “That game’s going to mean a lot to me. I was raised there. I learned how to speak their English, Spanish, well, everything. I learned how to play basketball. That’s my second home. I’m very excited to be back there.”
Ahead of his homecoming, Real Madrid posted a heartwarming hype video on social media that recapped his time with the club as well as his first five years with the Mavs. Real Madrid star Sergio Llull, who was one of Doncic’s teammates and mentors, posted a special message on social media as well, saying, “The boy has grown up and tomorrow we play against his Dallas Mavericks. Let’s receive him as he deserves, he is one of ours.”
Watch the entire Real Madrid video tribute to Doncic here:
OCT 6 UNCLE DREW SHOWING OFF HIS CROSSOVER IN ABU DHABI — It’s one thing to go to an NBA game as a kid, but it’s on a whole other level getting to learn how to dribble from Dallas Mavs star Kyrie Irving.
And that’s exactly what the children of Abu Dhabi got to do on Friday morning at the Jr. NBA clinic with the Dallas Mavericks.
Posted to social media by the NBA, Irving was seen teaching kids ‘the art of the crossover’, which he has mastered to be claimed to have the best handles in NBA history.
“It’s a rhythm. It’s like dancing!” Irving told the kids. Check out the video below.
OCT 5 LUKA HITS INSANE NO LOOK LAYUP — Nothing says the NBA is back like Luka Doncic hitting an impossible, highlight-worthy shot.
In Dallas’ first preseason game on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023, Doncic drove to his right and was tripped by Jaden McDaniels, falling to the ground as he flipped the ball up into the basket without looking to force the and-one.
If this is how Doncic is starting out in the first preseason contest, you can only imagine what he has in store for Mavs fans for the entire 2023-24 season.
Check out the highlight play from Doncic below.
OCT 5 MAVS REVEAL NEW STARTING LINEUP — Ahead of their first of two preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks have revealed a brand new starting five that features the two rookies they picked up in the first round of the NBA Draft in June.
According to Marc Stein, head coach Jason Kidd is sticking to what he said at the start of training camp last week by starting Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper alongside Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Grant Williams
Williams was acquired in a three-team sign-and-trade in July, so the Mavs now how three brand new starters around Doncic and Irving. Kidd’s starting lineup can certainly change between now and the Mavs’ season opener against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 25, but it’s good to see him embracing the youth movement regardless.
OCT 4 MAVS RANKED 17TH IN THE RINGER’S POWER RANKINGS — As the NBA preseason kicks off this week, the power rankings heading into the 2023-24 season are starting to be released.
In The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor’s NBA preseason power rankings, the Mavs found themselves in the middle of the pack at No. 17 as a part of “The Wild Cards” section.
“The Mavericks will have a high-powered offense led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but can this team get stops? They’re banking a lot on a mixed bag of bigs—Dwight Powell, Richaun Holmes, and rookie Dereck Lively II—to protect the rim. The return of a healthy Maxi Kleber and the additions of Grant Williams and rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper could signal a shift toward a more versatile, switch-heavy defensive scheme.
“If Dallas can figure out how to piece together a competent defense, the team will make noise.”
The ranking is fair heading into the new season, as Dallas floundered at the end of 2022-23, missing the playoffs in order keep its first-round pick. With a full offseason under Kyrie Irving’s belt as a member of the Mavs, along with additions like Grant Williams and rookies Dereck Lively and O-Max Prosper, Dallas should bounce back and find themselves in playoff contention. Time will tell if that will actually be the case, though.
OCT 3 MAVS RIDE CAMELS IN ABU DHABI — Ahead of Thursday’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Dallas Mavericks are staying loose and having some team-bonding fun in Abu Dhabi. The first part of that bonding experience apparently includes riding camels in the desert.
“It’s been fun to think about going to Abu Dhabi, going to Madrid, and having an opportunity to play in front of an international community that supports the game of basketball and grow over there as a team to build camaraderie,” Mavs star Kyrie Irving said before making the trip.
By the looks of things, the Mavs, and Irving specifically, look to be having a great time while also getting a head start on building chemistry ahead of the 2023-24 regular season.
OCT 3 REGGIE BULLOCK COMPLETES THE TEXAS TRIANGLE – In July, the Dallas Mavericks traded veteran wing Reggie Bullock to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team trade that netted them former Boston Celtics 3-and-D forward Grant Williams. Last week, it was reported that Bullock and the Spurs had come to an agreement on a contract buyout, which mean he had his eyes on joining a title contender … or at least so we thought.
On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Bullock is planning to sign with the Mavs’ I-45 rival Houston Rockets, completing his own personal Texas Triangle over the last four months.
“Free agent Reggie Bullock plans to sign with the Houston Rockets after he clears waivers, sources tell TheAthletic, Stadium,” Charania posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Bullock – a 38.4 percent 3-point shooter over 10 NBA seasons – fielded interest from several teams following buyout and gives Houston a reliable 3-and-D wing.”
In 78 games for the Mavs last season, Bullock averaged 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 38 percent from deep. Although he played a big part in Dallas making it to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, Bullock’s play on the defensive end of the court took a step back during the 2022-23 season, which prompted the Mavs to make the roster changes they did.
SEPT 29 PHOTO OF MAVS CITY UNIFORM LEAKS — While the excitement of Mavs Media Day took over social media on Friday, a not-so-exciting photo came across everyone’s timeline in the form of a leaked look at the Mavs’ upcoming City Edition Jersey for the 2023-24 season.
Let’s be honest: this jersey is wildly underwhelming. This jersey is bringing back horrific memories of Dallas’ alternate uniform that was worn for just one game to open the 2003 season due to the sweat making the jersey to look like a trash bag.
While the Mavs have had their struggles on the court or in free agency, arguably their biggest flaw seems to be curating cool uniforms … or perhaps it’s Nike, who knows. Look across the league and you’ll see a wide variety of awesome throwback jerseys while the Mavs seem to consistently roll out some questionable looks.
Can we all agree that a complete rebrand is needed in the near future? Being back the retro green uniforms!
SEPT 28 TRAVIS KELCE RESPONDS TO MARK CUBAN — After Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban jokingly urged Taylor Swift to break up with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce in order to date one of the several “good looking, single” guys on the Mavs’ roster … Kelce had a fantastic response that could satisfy both sides.
“Just sign me to a ten day [contract]!” Kelce tweeted at Cuban.
The Mavs’ frontcourt situation has improved after the additions of Dereck Lively II and Richaun Holmes this summer, but if Kelce can rebound and has a decent jumper … Ok, ok, in all seriousness, we know this would be as much of a publicity stunt as former Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo being a Maverick for a day. But you can’t deny it would be entertaining!
SEPT 28 MARK CUBAN PLAYING MATCHMAKER FOR MAVS? — Nothing has dominated the recent sports news cycle like the new star-studded power couple of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
After Swift was seen attending the Chiefs’ game on Sunday and leaving with Kelce following the Kansas City win, it’s been non-stop in on your TV screen and your mobile phone.
On Thursday’s episode of First Take, Mavs owner Mark Cuban made an appearance and was asked about his thoughts on the new power couple, which he complimented Swift being the ‘most popular artist on the planet,’ but was followed up with an interesting angle.
“Taylor, if you’re listening, sorry Travis, break up with him,” Cuban joked. “I got a bunch of good looking, single guys that play for the Dallas Mavericks. I got you, I got you.”
Check out the full clip below.
SEPT 27 DONCIC, IRVING PUT ON TWO-MAN SHOW AT MAVS PRACTICE — Smell that everyone it? It’s the first practice of training camp for the Dallas Mavericks as they get prepared for the 2023-24 season.
The Mavs began their training camp earlier than most teams as they’ll soon head to Abu Dhabi to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in two preseason games to kick start the NBA’s preseason schedule.
In Dallas’ first practice on Wednesday, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving’s chemistry was already flowing as they teamed up together in a beautiful give-and-go sequence that ended in a floater off the glass for Doncic.
If all goes as planned, expect to see a lot of this connection for this upcoming season. See the full clip below.
SEPT 27 JAREN JACKSON JR. AMAZED BY DIRK — It has been 12 years since the Dallas Mavericks hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy after beating a Miami Heat super team that featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. No matter how much time has passed, though, people are still amazed by newly-minted Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki’s performance in those 2011 playoffs.
Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. is the latest example of this, as he was left speechless while watching Nowitzki play against Miami. You can see his entire reaction below:
SEPT. 25 MAVS ARENA GETS MAJOR UPGRADES — Dallas Mavericks fans not only get to enjoy an upgraded roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie this season, but they’ll also get to enjoy the $20 million in upgrades the American Airlines Center received this summer as well.
“Mavericks fans expect and deserve a first-class experience and championship effort every time they walk into American Airlines Center,” said Cynt Marshall, CEO, Dallas Mavericks. “This impressive new video board and additional upgrades will prove awe-inspiring to every Mavericks fan entering AAC. We cannot wait to welcome our fans and share these incredible enhancements.”
In addition to a new state-of-the-art video board, AAC also got seat upgrades that should enhance fans’ viewing experience.
“The largest upgrade in the history of American Airlines Center is nothing short of spectacular, starting with the cutting-edge technology of the new video board,” said Dave Brown, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of American Airlines Center. “The exhilaration surrounding the new video board, seats, and additional amenities ensure AAC remains a hub of excitement, entertainment, and unforgettable moments.”
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