When the NBA announced the Christmas Day slate for the upcoming 2025-26 season this week, some Dallas Mavericks fans might've predicted that a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers was going to make the card,

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks back at Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) after driving the baseline with an off-balanced score in the fourth quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, April 9, 2025.

If the Mavericks are going to find any kind of success in the first year of the Cooper Flagg era, they will need consistent production from D'Angelo Russell, who is entering his 11th season in the NBA after having played his poorest basketball since arguably his rookie season with the Lakers.

Former Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards has agreed to a training camp contract with the Nuggets in free agency.

The Mavericks GM made a return trip to Pittsburgh’s training camp a year after visiting alongside coach Jason Kidd.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/mavericks as NBA makes Lakers, Warriors announcement for Dallas Mavericks.

Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is expected to make waves during his first year as the heavy favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award.