The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs entered the season with roughly the same expectations. However, after just one game, it’s clear that the Mavericks are already lagging behind. In their season opener, Dallas suffered a heavy 125-92 loss to the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama led the charge for San Antonio, delivering a dominant 40-point performance that exposed Dallas on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg struggled, managing an inefficient ten-point effort. Despite Flagg’s underwhelming showing, fans and teammates remain optimistic about his potential.
### Mavericks to Rely on PJ Washington’s Breakout
Klay Thompson, however, believes another player is poised to step up for Dallas this season: PJ Washington. Quietly one of the better 3-and-D players in the league, Washington showed flashes of his potential in the opener against San Antonio. Last season, he averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 38.1% from three-point range.
In the opener, Washington contributed 17 efficient points and played his role well, even as San Antonio outpaced Dallas. Thompson expressed high hopes for Washington’s development:
“There are so many great players on this roster,” Thompson told CBS. “I think PJ has All-Star potential. I really do.”
Though the Mavericks are headlined by Thompson, Cooper Flagg, and Anthony Davis, success in the competitive Western Conference will require key role players to evolve into stars. Thompson elaborated on Washington’s value:
“I really believe PJ can be one of the better two-way players in the NBA. There aren’t many players who can do what PJ does as far as guarding one through five, scoring from the outside, scoring on the interior, rebounding on both ends of the court. Very excited for him. I think he has another level to get to.”
### Dallas Mavericks Need to Bounce Back
The loss to the Spurs was clinical — even embarrassing. Wembanyama was unstoppable, Stephon Castle added 22 points, and De’Aaron Fox didn’t even suit up. Dallas entered the season with high hopes of contending for a title. After one game, those hopes are far from dashed, but it’s evident that Cooper Flagg still has a lot of development ahead, the defense needs to tighten up, and roster depth remains a concern.
If Washington can emerge as a reliable 20-point scorer and become one of the league’s better defenders, Thompson’s optimistic prediction might just come true. For now, the Mavericks face an uphill battle as they look to build chemistry and improve across the board. Fans will be watching closely to see if this promising squad can rise to the challenge in what’s shaping up to be a tough Western Conference season.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/klay-thompson-first-time-all-star/