DALLAS — When the Dallas Mavericks went to the conference finals two seasons ago, coach Jason Kidd often referred to them as a young team.
In that season, it was 23-year-old Luka Dončić who led them past the Phoenix Suns in the semifinals and 25-year-old Jalen Brunson who broke out into becoming a star alongside him. Kidd never revealed what he meant by that frequent line, whether he was attempting to curb expectations or speak to another aspect of the team’s lack of experience. But outside of the superstar duo, every postseason contributor to that roster was at least 28.
Now Dallas has advanced out of the first round again. This franchise took an unexpected path to get here: letting Brunson walk for nothing, missing the postseason entirely last season, trading for the embattled Kyrie Irving and being somewhat underestimated entering this season. It took midseason trades to bolster the roster, which sparked the team’s 16 wins in 18 games that secured the No. 5 seed.
On Friday, Dallas toppled the No. 4-seeded LA Clippers 114-101 to prevail in their first-round playoff series decisively. Clippers star Kawhi Leonard only played in two of the six games, although Dončić wrestled with his injuries and on-court struggles as well. He’s older now, having turned 25 in February, with a sidekick north of 30 joining him in the backcourt.
But there’s no question this team is far younger than it was during the franchise’s last postseason run.
When Dallas made its February trades, it was underappreciated that P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, now two of the team’s starters, are both 25 years old. A decade ago, they were still years away from the NBA, sometimes playing each other in AAU tournaments in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Washington lived much of his childhood in Frisco, Texas, before transferring out of state in high school, while Gafford’s teams would drive from Arkansas. As pros, they have room for continued growth, both individually and within their specific roles on this team.
Dallas has only had two role players over age 28 this season: 32-year-old Maxi Kleber and 31-year-old Tim Hardaway Jr. The team has openly attempted to trade Hardaway in the past two summers, something that may finally happen this coming offseason if only to ensure Dallas doesn’t exceed the luxury tax.
The team isn’t relying on either heading into the future like they are other players: Dante Exum (28), Josh Green (23), Jaden Hardy (21), Dereck Lively II (20). There’s hope that first-round draft pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper (22 in July) can contribute next season after thriving in the G League.
Youth means nothing without the requisite talent and on-court results. But following the trade deadline, Dallas went 22-7 to close out the regular season — not including two final games in which the starters rested — while having the league’s fifth-best net rating, seventh-most points scored per 100 possessions and seven-fewest allowed per 100.
And now Dallas has a playoff series win to validate the midseason moves being worth the draft capital conceded to make them happen. The team’s impressive play down the stretch was more than a charade spurred by playing more bad teams than before.
How close is Dallas to the ideal version of itself? The answer will become more clear during its second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that sustained its success the entire season rather than over a 31-game stretch. There are many questions this series will answer: How ready Dončić is to win titles, how Dallas’ centers fare against a five-out postseason opponent and whether the Mavericks’ defense can withstand a more dynamic opponent. There are more beyond that.
But one year ago, Dallas was out of the postseason entirely. Dončić’s fit with Irving was in question, which was fair because of the results, if not the duo’s on-court production. Irving is 32 years old and missed 24 games in the regular season; availability is always a question for him. He also scored 30 points in Friday’s series-clinching win, lighting up the court in the second half and carrying his co-star to the finish line. What was questioned 12 months ago has been answered positively.
“We don’t see the perception of him in the past,” Kidd said. “We only see the present. When we got him, people didn’t think he’d fit with Luka. That changed quickly (and) it’s a beautiful thing what he’s doing. I know Kai better than most. We all have our own opinions. He’s worldly, which is a beautiful thing. Sometimes that scares people.”
How Irving will age over the next few years is a question, although his elite athleticism isn’t the type of above-the-rim dominance that breaks down quickly. He might be in the best shape of his life right now. Irving referred to his co-star Dončić as “mi hermano” in Friday’s postgame interview and consistently glowed with compliments about his complement since arriving here, especially this season once success started revving up.
Irving is signed for at least one more year before any questions would begin again.
There may still be holes to fill and further issues that could arise. Derrick Jones Jr. has been a breakout starter for Dallas who has fit perfectly, but the 27-year-old’s minimum contract expires this summer. There are bigger questions the rest of this postseason run may amplify: Is this offense good enough? Does it have enough shooting? Does it have enough high-end defensive talent? And the team’s success so far doesn’t make its upcoming series against Oklahoma City any less important. If nothing else, the Thunder’s history provides a textbook example of a team whose rise was constantly interrupted by unlucky timing.
But there’s an expectation that this Mavericks roster, unlike the one from two years ago, can stick around and keep rising. Even if further moves must be made, they can happen without Dallas conceding its place among the league’s eight remaining teams. A year after such an embarrassing finish, the Mavericks are built to stick around the top of the NBA for the near future.
It’s finally a young team, like Kidd always said, and it’s ready to grow up.
(Top photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)
