As 2024 comes to an end and the NBA season transitions into 2025, the Dallas Mavericks have already experienced their share of twists and turns.
DALLAS — The Mavericks’ quest to defend their Western Conference title has been marked by highs and lows as the calendar turns to 2025.
Despite grappling with a slew of injuries and player absences, Dallas remains firmly positioned in the upper half of the conference standings. Their ability to stay competitive, even with key players sidelined—Luka Doncic set to miss all of January and Kyrie Irving receiving considerable rest due to his expanded role—can be credited to one of the deepest rosters in franchise history.
Doncic and Irving are the marquee names. Dereck Lively II is an emerging star. Jason Kidd is the Hall of Fame coach tasked with steering the ship. But beyond their stars and head coach, several players have stepped up as pivotal contributors during the first half of the 2024-25 campaign.
Klay Thompson
Thompson joined the Mavericks as a high-profile free agent in the offseason. Entering his Dallas tenure, the sharpshooter averaged 39.4% from beyond the arc over three seasons following his return from injury with Golden State.
Now in his first season away from the Bay Area, the four-time NBA champion is shooting 38% from deep with Dallas, slightly below his career average of 41%.
Klay’s standout performance back in The Bay was nothing short of spectacular 🤩
🎯 29 PTS
🎯 7 3PM
He played a crucial role in leading the Mavs to a high-scoring victory! pic.twitter.com/ODeetVoQhv
— NBA (@NBA) December 16, 2024
While the Mavericks didn’t anticipate Thompson replicating his “Splash Brother” days, they sought an upgrade from Tim Hardaway Jr.’s contributions during last season’s playoff run. Thompson has also excelled at the free-throw line, flirting with a 90% success rate, which, along with Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Naji Marshall, has significantly boosted Dallas’ fortunes.
Naji Marshall
Known as “The Knife,” Marshall arrived from New Orleans with a reputation for toughness, having worked his way from being undrafted to becoming a vital component of the Pelicans’ lineup.
In the first half of his three-year contract with Dallas, Marshall has already endeared himself to teammates and fans. His grit and versatility align perfectly with the Mavericks’ revamped roster, and he has quickly adapted his offensive game to thrive alongside the Doncic-Irving-Thompson trio.
Averaging 8.2 shot attempts per game—ranking fifth behind Doncic, Irving, Thompson, and P.J. Washington—Marshall is shooting a career-best 61% from inside the arc. He is also one of six Mavericks averaging double figures in points (10.9), surpassing his previous career-high set in the 2022-23 season.
Quentin Grimes
Quentin Grimes arrived in Dallas as penance for shedding Hardaway Jr.’s contract, but the 24 year-old has risen the ranks quickly as a trusted member of the rotation. His game-high of 28 in early December against the Portland Trail Blazers shined as part of a streak of multiple 20-point efforts within a week.
The Houston, Texas, native has had 13 double-digit scoring games to date this season and is averaging a career-high 42% from deep.
Grimes’ minutes will grow with the extended absence of Doncic, and with that extra playing time, he should quickly become the seventh member of the team to average 10 or more points per game.
P.J. Washington
Washington was counted on to be an integral part of the rotation upon his arrival from Charlotte at last season’s trade deadline, and his ability to defend multiple positions has been a boon for Dallas.
Streaky shooting aside, the added bonus has seen a surge from deep. Washington is posting the best three-point percentages of his career to date, nearly hitting the elusive 40% mark as part of the starting lineup.
Combining a good spot up three with his defensive prowess and the toughness displayed in multiple skirmishes, Dallas has been the runaway winner in bringing Washington home as more often than not, when Washington is in the lineup, good things follow for Dallas.
Daniel Gafford
The 26-year-old big man continues to make the most of it as part of the center tandem with Lively. Gafford is churning out the best scoring average of his career, and currently leads the NBA in shooting percentage (72%).
Being able to work in pairs with Lively has added to the depth that Dallas has created where once they yearned for help inside for Doncic. Now with Gafford as part of a two-headed monster down low, the team is benefitting from the Doncic/Irving lob show with Gafford one of the starring throw-down members.
With 2024 in the books, the 2025 half has 50 games waiting for the Mavericks to shape their season, but they will pass quickly.
The All-Star game is six weeks away. Between now and then, there is hope for positive news on the availability of their All-NBA superstar, but the Mavs have shown that they are more than just Doncic, and may have more in reserve to continue to surprise thanks to their deep rotation.
Which first half standout do you think will carry their success over to 2025 for the Mavericks? S
