The Mavericks Experience Their Worst Offensive Performance Since the 90s

With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the Dallas Mavericks statistically have the fourth worst offense in the NBA. They rank 27th in points scored per 100 possessions according to NBA.com, ahead of only the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers in this category.

Statistically speaking, the Mavericks hadn’t struggled this much offensively compared to their peers in nearly three decades. The 1997-1998 season was the last time Dallas had an offense ranked in the bottom-four. That team finished with a 20-62 record.

The Failed Signing of D’Angelo Russell

In the first hours of free agency last summer, the Mavericks attempted to fill their enormous deficit at the guard position by signing D’Angelo Russell for two years and 13 million dollars. With Kyrie Irving recovering from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament suffered in March 2025, the expectation was that Russell could establish himself as a starter in Irving’s absence.

None of that happened. Russell made only three starts and played 26 games for Dallas before being traded to the Wizards in February as part of the Anthony Davis trade. Warning signs about Russell’s fit in Dallas began flashing as early as autumn, when he played fewer minutes than Ryan Nembhard, an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract.

Davis’s Injuries and the Roster’s Failed Balance

Nothing derailed the Mavericks’ season more than Davis’s injuries. He suffered a left calf strain in the team’s fifth game, keeping him off the court for nearly a month. Then, during a game on January 8th in Utah, Davis sustained ligament damage to his left hand, which has kept him out since.

The Mavericks posted a 10-10 record in the 20 games Davis played this season. Their record without him this year is 13-36. Former general manager Nico Harrison had downplayed the idea of redundancies in his roster after selecting Flagg in the draft. « I told him: ‘P.J., do you think you can play together?' » Harrison said about P.J. Washington. « He said: ‘Oh yes, we can play together.' »

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Sylvain Sultat

This season, the Mavericks have been outscored by 10.2 points per 100 possessions with Flagg and Washington on the court. Among the 238 NBA player duos who have played at least 800 minutes, the Flagg-Washington duo ranks 231st according to NBA.com. These Mavericks (23-46) had entered the season with hopes of an interesting playoff run, but now occupy 13th place in the Western Conference with 13 games remaining.