4 Dallas Mavericks bold season predictions as Kyrie Irving returns to team up with Cooper Flagg

October 21, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

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The Dallas Mavericks finished 12th in the Western Conference last season after major injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving saw them finish the regular season with a 26-56 record. Now, with Irving set to return for the start of the new campaign, critics have not been too kind to Dallas as far as season projections are concerned.

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The team is set to begin a new era under head coach Dusty May, with Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg set to retain his role as the team’s centerpiece. The Western Conference is undoubtedly packed, and Dallas looks unlikely to return to the postseason for the first time after losing the NBA Finals back in 2023.

However, with Irving set to arrive with a chip on his shoulder and the improved support cast means that the Mavericks undoubtedly have the tools to surprise many this season. For the time being, we look at four bold predictions for the Mavericks this campaign.

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#1 Cooper Flagg will earn his first All-Star appearance

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Flagg undoubtedly underlined himself as a bonafide prodigy, and we expect him to take things up a notch in the 2026-27 campaign. The 19-year-old averaged 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists over his final 26 full games as a rookie per Basketball Reference, and increasingly looked like he was playing in ‘his team.’

We expect Irving’s return to make a positive role for Flagg, whose arrival will mean that he no longer has to act as the team’s primary ball handler. Flagg is also likely to undergo a major boost with respect to his scoring, and if the support cast ends up clicking, the Mavericks may as well end up taking a major step up this campaign.

#2 Zaccharie Risacher and Derrick Lively II will be crucial for Dallas

May inherits a roster with several promising players but also questions about fit, shooting and ball-handling. The HC will need players such as Derrick Lively II and Zaccharie Risacher to step up, and the latter has already shown flashes of what he can bring to the team in the preseason.

Lively’s availability could determine how effective Dallas is defensively and whether they have the frontcourt depth to compete consistently. The young center played only seven games last season before another operation on his right foot, and is likely to be replaced by Daniel Gafford at the start of the campaign. However, the Mavs will need Lively’s rim protection and interior presence if they are to make the most of their personnel.

Risacher adds another interesting element. The No. 1 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft has been impressive in the Mavericks’ preseason, and we expect his three-point shooting to further improve in the coming campaign. Dallas ranked 26th in three-point percentage and 27th in three-point attempts last season, and Risacher’s arrival, along with Irving’s return, not only frees up Flagg, it also potentially represents a major jump as far as distance shooting is concerned.

#3 Kyrie Irving’s return will transform Dallas’ offense

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Irving’s missed the previous season after suffering a torn ACL, and his availability will play a significant role in determining Dallas’ ceiling. The Mavericks undoubtedly placed a lot of responsibility on Flagg last season, and Irving’s presence means that they now have a proven veteran who can lead the team’s offense on most nights.

Flagg’s versatility on paper makes him the ideal partner in crime for Irving, and the two already seem to be developing chemistry, as evidenced by their two preseason appearances alongside each other. Much will depend on how well Irving can return from his ACL tear, but if he can play at his former levels, the Mavericks potentially have a serviceable team around him, that can propel them into playoff consideration.

#4 Dallas will make the postseason for the first time since 2023

Most projections expect the Mavericks to improve without necessarily returning to the playoffs. However, the predictions have been understated largely due to the uncertainty surrounding Irving’s return, and whether under the new coach Dallas can quickly transition into a team with a recognizable brand of basketball.

The Mavericks have also undergone major improvement with respect to their support cast. They drafted Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 9, Sergio De Larrea at No. 25, Tobi Lawal at No. 48 and Vsevolod Ishchenko at No. 56, and also acquired Santi Aldama from the Memphis Grizzlies in addition to Risacher.

The depth gives Dallas options if injuries disrupt their rotation, and while the weakness remains obvious, much may depend on whether the coaching staff can get the best out of the new arrivals. The Mavericks lack perimeter shooting and do not have an obvious third option behind Flagg and Irving.

However, we expect them to be in postseason reckoning till late in the season, and if Flagg ends up performing at an All-Star level, there is a good chance they end up returning to the playoffs. Dallas is undoubtedly headed in a new direction and looks intent on building a young team in the coming seasons.

Still, the 2026-27 campaign will see them rely heavily on Irving, and we expect that faith to bear fruit.

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