While simply moving off of Doncic was shocking, the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals only a few months earlier made it even more difficult to believe. Dallas lost that NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics, and one of the key themes in that matchup was Kristaps Porzingis’ opportunity to face his former team.

With Lively on track and Davis healthy following his own off-season surgery for a detached retina, the Mavericks head into training camp with legitimate championship ambitions. Dallas will lean on a frontcourt rotation featuring Davis, Lively, Daniel Gafford, and top draft pick Cooper Flagg.

Learn how Luka Doncic's body changes this offseason reflects the Dallas Mavericks' past conditioning concerns.

Here are six takeaways from the Mavericks’ 2025-26 regular season schedule:

Kamenetzky brothers shared the Mavericks' unprofessional treatment of Luka Doncic, which might be the reason for his trade to the Lakers.