Those little Dallas Mavericks (3-2) now sport a winning record for the first time since March 5, 2025, after drilling the injury-ravaged Oklahoma City Thunder (4-1), 120-96 on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center.
The basketball is watchable. The wins are eyebrow-raising. The young superstar is rocketing into the fourth dimension before our very eyes. The first-year head coach is actually coaching. You may warn against getting ahead of ourselves, but we’re already there, baby.
Let’s see what
head coach Dusty May, Cooper Flagg and Zaccharie Risacher had to say in their postgame press conference.
Dusty May
Opening statement
I thought we had a great team effort. If we can manage the game and limit the turnovers like we did tonight, we believe we’ll be very difficult to beat. I think we’re definitely developing some winning habits along the way, against an organization that’s become the standard. So, very good win. Now it’s time to turn the page, and we’ve got another tough opponent coming in a couple of days.
On Caleb Martin’s return to the active roster:
Yeah, Caleb, from the first time we got here, from the first day we got here this summer, we’ve just been communicating with him because he has a real unique past, he has a unique set of experiences, and he’s a very, very smart, tough basketball player that we felt like could help us win these type of games. And he got injured, and sometimes when you’ve been in a little bit of a shooting funk, like he had been in, you tape that thing up, and it causes you not to think about things and just play more freely. Other than — he lost a little bit of confidence in his shooting — other than that, he’s always performed well when he wasn’t trying to do too much. And so he deserves this. If we’re winning games this year, he’ll have a big part of that. He’s got a real presence in our locker room. He’s got respect within our team. And man, what a great guy to coach.
On Kyrie Irving’s first home game post-ACL injury:
Yeah, the beautiful part is he’s still just getting his rhythm back. I mean, when you see some things out there —he’s managing the game for us. When he’s on the floor, we’re really, really good. He’s getting so much attention as well. And the way he trusts his teammates — I think the majority of Caleb’s shots were Kyrie generating, drawing two and getting off the ball. And that’s a real staple of our team, of just making the right play. So, I mean, obviously you guys know how I feel about Kyrie.
What got the team going in the first quarter?
I don’t remember the moment, but I felt like we were just kind of getting up and down with them and playing a game. And then there was one possession in the first half — I thought it was the first quarter … when Sasser picked up the ball, and really I thought that energized his teammates. I thought it was an inspiring play. I thought it was an energizing play. And it seemed after that we kind of decided we weren’t just going to trade baskets with them. We were going to start competing on the glass and playing with a little more fire and energy.
What stood out about Cooper Flagg’s game?
Yeah, his ability to just get in the paint. And they were bringing the double from the weak side, and he’s able to navigate that. And several shots I thought looked great that just didn’t drop. So he’s, you know, just like Kyrie. I mean, when you look at the shots that he’s getting, he’s creating great looks for himself and his teammates. And just like Kyrie, I mean, when your franchise guys are that unselfish, you know, it’s very difficult not to fall in line and continue with playing good ball.
How much of Irving shooting 8.3 3-point attempts per game to open the season by design?
We’d love for Kyrie to shoot threes; you know, the ball’s fine in his hands too. I think our guys have done a nice job going after offensive rebounds, fanning out. And so he’s going to take what the game gives him. If they’re in a deep, deep drop coverage — and Gaff’s screens have been — I mean, there’s probably 10 or 15 every game that Gaff just sets great screens and gets these guys open. And so if the big’s in a deep drop, he’s… obviously he’s a great decision maker. So, you know, we like the threes. They are worth more.
On Daniel Gafford hitting the first NBA 3-pointer of his career:
Yeah, he puts in the work. He made one in an exhibition, and the entire time he’s been working on these all summer — and working on them in the summer and making them in games are usually two different things. I give him a lot of respect, because typically when you start making them in practice, you start hunting them in the games. And he’s done something that’s not ordinary. He’s just continued to dominate the paint, dominate the paint, and then when it finds him, he’s got to knock it down. So there will be some games where we have to look for that. But, you know, typically, like I said, when bigs start making them, they change their game. He’s changing his game, but it’s to be an enforcer down low. I can’t say enough good things about the way Gaff’s playing right now. Him and PJ, the two holdover guys on the front line, have been phenomenal.
How important is Zaccharie Risacher to the team’s defensive identity?
I thought tonight he painted a masterpiece. The two threes he made — it’s a prime example: end of the shot clock, and then a step-back left where there’s no time to think. So whenever he can really get to the point where he’s not thinking consciously on his jump shots — because he’s a good shooter, he’s a very good shooter — but he’s impacting every single possession. The job he did on Shai in the second half — you know, I’ve watched a lot of Shai film, and you don’t see that very often: to beat him to spots, to get deflections, to challenge shots without fouling. Like I said, he was great.
Does Risacher’s motor affect his teammates on the court with him?
It’s 100%. That behavior is incredibly contagious throughout your locker room. And like I said, tonight I don’t know which happened first, whether it was Sasser’s energy or Zacc’s off the bench, but those guys are lighting a fire under us, and it’s been fun.
Did Morez Johnson Jr. have a little more motivation, going against former college teammate Aday Mara?
He did. Those guys — that’s what it looked like every day. You want to know how two guys come from nowhere to be lottery picks in one year? They competed like that against each other every single day, and iron sharpened iron. I mean, what they did today would just look like a normal day at the office. And they’re completely different players, and because of that, they were able to help each other.
How do you help Johnson avoid getting ahead of himself in his rookie year?
That’s all the guys. I mean, we have great depth, and that’s a challenge at times, but it’s a great challenge, because there are several guys on our team tonight that deserve more minutes, and they just didn’t get them because of the other guy playing their position. And we’ve got to value and prioritize winning over those minutes and those shots. And that’s another part of winning — that shared sacrifice. And so, obviously we’ve got to continue to develop winning habits; we’ve got to continue to improve, but I really enjoy watching how our guys are interacting and how much joy they’re bringing to our fans. I’m sure their families and whoever love and support them — but also just the game. We have a long way to go, but they’re trying to play this game the right way.
On takeaways from the season’s first five games:
It’s a blur. We’ve obviously improved. You know, I’m not getting ahead of myself — this was a depleted Oklahoma City team, you know — but there are steps that teams have to go through to learn how to win and be confident they’re going to win, and we’re still learning a lot about ourselves. I’m still making mistakes, players are still making mistakes, so we still have a lot to clean up. But if we do value the ball, and [if] we compete like we’re competing, we’re going to be in the games.
Cooper Flagg
How confident do you feel in being a facilitator, passer and playmaker?
Yeah, I think it definitely helped, getting those reps and stuff like that. But I think it’s something that just comes with getting more and more comfortable, you know, trusting the guys, the guys trusting me more and more, and getting more of a feel for the game. And I’m drawing a lot of help, so just making the right plays, finding the guys that are open out there, and trusting that they’re going to knock down their shot. So just keeping the defense honest — not letting them over-help. Whenever I feel heavy pressure, you’ve just got to get it to the next man and let them make the right play as well.
What got you going in the first quarter (12 points, three assists)?
I think just coming out — trusting the game plan. We knew what they were going to do. My teammates put me in good spots, Coach May put me in good spots, and I was just able to capitalize on it early.
What has the team improved on since the season-opening loss at the Houston Rockets?
I think just being together — not getting knocked off by physicality. And I think, just trying to throw that first punch rather than the other team throwing the first punch — being more physical from the jump, rather than trying to find our way back into it. So I think the big thing we were talking about early was some of those second quarters — having a down quarter. But I think just coming together, having better communication from our leaders, and kind of having better second quarters and being able to take control of segments of the game has really helped us to stay on track.
On getting all the way to the rim rather than pulling up for 6-9 footers — has that been a point of emphasis?
Yeah, definitely. Just holding my lines, you know, getting all the way downhill and trying to create more contact, get fouled. But yeah, I think just getting stronger helps with that too — being able to hold my line better and be more physical at the rim.
How special was Kyrie’s first home game post-ACL injury?
It was great. I mean, the fans were amazing. I think that was an incredible crowd tonight, so just, so much love, so much support, and I felt great. It felt like home.
How do you unlock Irving’s game, and how does he unlock yours?
I think just his gravity. Just having so much gravity as a player — he attracts so much attention that it opens up the floor for everybody else. And I think as I’ve continued to grow and get more and more gravity, I think I’ve gotten him some easier looks as well. So I think just finding ways to play off each other, and me finding him and him finding me, and just helping each other and making the game easier has been something that’s been fun to experiment with. And I think there’s a lot of growth, you know, another gear that we can get to with each other out there, helping each other out more. But, you know, it’s been a pleasure to be able to just be alongside him and learn as we go, kind of on the fly.
What part has Dusty May played in the team’s start this year?
I think a lot. I mean, obviously, I think it goes to Masai as well — the culture that they’ve come in this summer and tried to build, and change the culture around, and get guys back to just competing and worried about one thing, and that’s just winning. That’s all we’re worried about, you know, doing whatever we can to win, compete every single possession, every single day, in practice, whatever it is. Just just thinking about winning and competing over everything else. And I think Dusty has contributed a lot. I mean, obviously he’s super knowledgeable, and he’s had us prepared, so I think he’s contributed a lot.
What identity is this team forming early in the season?
Like I said, just competitors. Just guys that are going to go out and compete every single possession, every single day, every single game. Do the little things, and we’re not going to give up.
Do you sense that the team is playing with joy, and is that different from last year?
It does, yeah, for sure. I think that’s another thing — just playing with that joy, being competitors, and I think that kind of goes hand in hand. Just enjoying the competition more, and enjoying that. It just gives us so much — we’re playing with so much more joy and so much more fun out there, and instead of feeling like as much of a battle, it just feels more fun that we’re able to go out there and compete together.
What did the team do defensively to hold the Thunder to 5-of-32 shooting from 3-point range?
I think just rotating, having each other’s back. Like I said, just competing at a high level, covering for each other. And obviously I think it looks a little different with their guys out there, and they were a little undermanned. But, still just rotating, covering for each other, and flying around the court, and trying to get them to take the shots we wanted them to take.
What has Risacher brought to this group?
He’s brought a lot. It goes back to that competing. Obviously I think he has a long way to go, and he has so much growth that he can show offensively with his shot-making, and he’s super versatile. But I think he’s been great overall for us, just impacting the game in so many different ways. And that’s what I tell him a lot of the time — I think we’re 15 to 20 points better with him just doing little things, and the shots will fall and all that, I don’t even care about it. But when he just goes out there and competes at the highest level that he can, he makes us so much better just with his versatility all over the court when he’s flying around. So, I mean, he’s been huge for us so far, and we’re going to need him to keep getting better and keep playing with the same fire.
Do you and Risacher ever talk about the pressure that comes with being selected No. 1 overall?
Yeah, we’ve talked about it a little bit. I mean, it’s tough. Obviously it’s something that’s different than a lot of other people — there’s only one number one pick each year — so you definitely feel another level of pressure. And that’s something I think I’ve talked to him about, and we’ve talked about together: just forgetting about the pressure. Like, I told him, I know how good you are. We don’t care — nobody here cares that he was a number one pick. We just want him to go out there and play and be who he can be, and I think that’s kind of what we’ve seen so far, and that’s why he’s helped us come out and get a bunch of wins early.
On Irving’s role as a coach on the floor:
Yeah, that’s great. I mean, obviously he’s a great leader, great vet. He has a great voice out there, commanding guys to do different things. He sees the game at a high level. So having someone with that basketball IQ actually on the court helps get the guys in the right spots.
On holding the Thunder to zero fast-break points:
Yeah, just getting back — covering for each other. I thought we had good defensive balance. I thought we could have crashed a little bit more, but it’s good when you can hold a team to zero fast-break points. It means we were getting set, and I think honestly when we get our defense set, it’s tough to score on.
On Caleb Martin’s first game and his defensive performance:
Yeah, Caleb looked great. You know, obviously he’s been rehabbing his hand and trying to get back for a little while, but I thought he looked really good. You know, Caleb’s a connector — he can just connect different guys. He’s not, you know, selfish and trying to worry about scoring all the time, and he’s going to be a connector out there for us. So I think all the little things that he does can make us a lot better on both sides of the ball. And I mean, yeah, he made a couple shots today, but I think for Caleb, it’s the connecting stuff that he does — all the little things that he brings to this team can bring us to another level.
Zaccharie Risacher
What did you like about the team’s defensive effort?
First of all, we played hard. We played hard on defense, we got each other’s back, and we’re playing free too. We’re sharing the ball on offense, we’re running the floor, and that chemistry keeps building. And yeah, and on top of that, we’re playing really hard. So I feel like it’s just a great win as a team, and yeah, we gotta keep it rolling.
What has made you so successful on the defensive end to start the year?
I feel like it’s a mindset first. Every time we get on the court, we try to play hard, and we’re using our size, we’re competing — playing hard. We’ve been guarding, and, like I said, everybody has each other’s back. So, defending in those conditions makes life easier, because you know you can make a mistake; somebody’s gonna have your back. So it allows you to be a little bit more aggressive, and I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing. And yeah, just, I think, the right mindset — every time we step on the court, it’s to guard and be impactful, be physical, and yeah.
On Flagg’s passing:
I mean, he’s been great. He’s playing at a high level, making all the right plays. Like, he’s scoring, he’s playmaking, he’s guarding, so it’s great to be around him and be able to compete with him.
On discipline with the ball (nine team turnovers):
I feel like we took care of the ball, and, like you say, we’ve been more disciplined on the offensive end. And I feel like as the season goes on, the chemistry builds up, builds up, and that for sure helps us avoid those turnovers. And yeah, we just gotta keep playing, keep passing the ball, keep making the right plays. But when we take care of the ball like this, offensively it’s great for us.
On drawing the assignment to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:
I like it. That’s why I’m on the court — just being able to impact the game, like I say. And sometimes it’s going to be guarding the best players on the court, so that’s what I do. And I feel like that’s just the mindset that I have every time I step on the court. Like I talked about, just wanting to be impactful, more, wanting to win the game. It’s as simple as that. And I feel like — I like the challenge. I like the challenge, and being able to compete and impact the game on defense — this has been great for me. And I feel like that’s also how I find the rhythm and I get into my game, ’cause I know, when I’m focusing on those things, the rest — the flow, the rhythm — is gonna take care of itself. And I’m just like, that’s what I do — guard.
Reaction to the Mavericks picking up his fourth-year option:
So I heard that before the game. I mean, my manager let me know, and I was super happy, super, like — great news. Just, like, I’m feeling, like, grateful to be, like, in this organization, this environment, with those people — I’m talking about front office, teammates. Everybody’s been great, and everybody wants to win, and everybody does the right thing to make sure we get into this position — win games and compete. And I feel like as a young player, that’s the best position I can get in, and I’m grateful to be able to be in that environment for two years, so at least. So this — I’m just super grateful.
On the team’s offensive rebounding:
I was talking about the defense and getting rebounds — it’s also what I’ve got in mind when I step on the court. Like, I’m trying to impact the game as much as I can, and that’s one of those things that I’m trying to do as much as I can — being impactful, crashing every time, so we get second chances. And I feel like that’s the way — that’s my way to contribute, and to make sure — getting those extra possessions — it’s really important, especially in tight games. So it’s all those kinds of things that I’m thinking — I take a lot of pride to do it.
Mish-mash question that made no sense, something about comparing the situation from Atlanta to Dallas:
Like I said a little bit before, I feel like as a young player, being here, it’s like — I’m feeling great here, and I feel like it’s a blessing to be able to be around those people, to work every day and get better. And I feel like I’m in the right position to be able to be myself and succeed individually, but most importantly collectively, you know. And I feel like I’m just — I just feel great, and I’m super happy to be here.
