There’s no denying it: Stephen A. Smith has made himself a titan of sports media, never one to shy away from speaking his truth—even if it’s controversial. In recent months, he’s turned a sharp lens toward the Dallas Mavericks, dissecting everything from their mid‑season trade to their draft strategy, and painting a picture that oscillates between caution, celebration, and provocation.
Let’s start with the blockbuster trade. On February 1, 2025, Dallas shocked the NBA world by sending franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future first-round pick (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org). The move instantly sent ripples through the league, drawing stark feedback from analysts and fans alike.
Stephen A. didn’t hold back. He described the trade as “one of the most shocking moves we’ve seen in sports history,” acknowledging Dončić’s status as a global superstar and the unexpectedness of the deal (talksport.com, mrt.com). On ESPN’s SportsCenter, he emphasized that trading a reigning All‑NBA player mid‑season for another superstar was virtually unheard of, marking it as a seismic shift (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org). But he also hinted that Dallas’s front office might be thinking long term, prioritizing defense and future assets.
Yet, Stephen A. was clear: while he respects Nick Harrison’s vision of tightening up the Mavericks defensively, the manner of execution—sending away your face of the franchise—still demands scrutiny. When evaluating the team’s prospects, he wasn’t shy about his skepticism: the move might fuel a defensive renaissance, but the Mavericks risked a reputational and relational hit that could linger.
In the months following the trade, Dallas stumbled. The team faced multiple injuries—Kyrie Irving suffered a season‑ending ACL tear, Anthony Davis dealt with adductor issues, and several others missed extended time (en.wikipedia.org). They missed the playoffs entirely, concluding the season 39–43 and floundering in the play‑in tournament (en.wikipedia.org). Fans responded with outrage—chants to “Fire Nico” echoed at games and even at non‑basketball events, with ticket cancellations following suit (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org). Stephen A. seized on the fan fury, highlighting the volatile fallout from a decision that altered Dallas’s identity seemingly in one night.
But Stephen A. doesn’t write the Mavericks off completely—because in every crisis he seeks redemption, and in redemption lies narrative. He proposed that Dallas, by acquiring Anthony Davis, wasn’t chasing the quick fix of pure offense, but constructing a roster that could grind playoff series and hold firm in the postseason. It’s the kind of long-game approach he often praises: build around a two-way anchor, inject young talent, and rewrite the narrative from the ground up.
And indeed, the Mavericks might be doing precisely that—with a twist. In May 2025, they landed the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and surprised many by selecting Duke phenom Cooper Flagg. Here is where Stephen A. truly lit up. He didn’t just say Dallas “should” draft Flagg—he insisted they must keep him, arguing it’s not only a basketball decision but a sociocultural and marketing one (sports.yahoo.com, sports.yahoo.com, on3.com, outkick.com). On First Take he said, “When you got somebody with that kind of potential and they’re white and you are in America, you keep that dude.” He rattled off that Texas, and Dallas in particular, have an open embrace of white athletes and that this context compounds Flagg’s appeal (on3.com, outkick.com).
To lump that comment into straightforward analysis or nuance would be a disservice. Stephen A. doubled down: “Texas is different … if you got an opportunity … you take Cooper Flagg,” citing a mixture of talent, marketability, and regional culture (on3.com, outkick.com). It triggered backlash—some saw racial undertones in his framing—but Stephen A. defended it as reality. He framed it as a marketing and demographic insight, reflecting what he perceives as Dallas’s broader priorities when building a brand. He pumped the brakes on criticism, pointing out that Flagg plays at an elite level—a can’t-miss pick, akin to Victor Wembanyama—so team logic and optics aligned (outkick.com).
A few poignant lines from Reddit capture fan reaction well:
“You underestimated that? Where the hell do you live at?” —reacting to Stephen A. on fans’ emotional attachment to Luka (reddit.com)
And:
“Smith advises the Dallas Mavericks to keep Cooper Flagg: ‘When you got somebody with that kind of potential and they’re white …’” (reddit.com)
Stephen A.’s rationale mixes both basketball projection and socio-cultural insight: Flagg is a generational talent, and Dallas knows how to sell ticket stubs and jerseys around such players.
Now, tying it all back to the concept of the “2025 season”—if we translate that to what lies ahead: the newly constructed Mavericks, minus Dončić but reinforced with Davis and an incoming franchise talent like Flagg, represent a fascinating gamble. Stephen A. paints a Dallas team at a crossroads, one that must liquidate its old identity, live in rebuilding ambiguity, and hope that its new core—which is defense-first and marketing-savvy—catches fire.
He’ll be watching: does Davis stay healthy and dominate? Does Flagg adapt fast and become the face of the city? And can the Mavericks rebound from fan revolt and ticket cancellations to rebuild trust? That’s his implied question.
He hasn’t explicitly predicted their record, but Stephen A.’s commentary implies cautious optimism: a healthy Mavericks with a centerpiece like Davis can threaten top contenders (he called them a threat to the Thunder in the West) (basketballnetwork.net, youtube.com, youtube.com). Yet he tempers that by reminding us of the fragility—Davis’s injuries, team chemistry, and the shockwaves of losing their most beloved star.
If you listen closely, there’s an underlying theme: Stephen A. believes Dallas is trying to reinvent itself. They’ve traded a superstar, diverted from the Luka legacy, and leaned into a new vision. He’s calling them bold—but still unproven. He’s urging patience, but demanding transparency. He’s applauding long-term asset accumulation, yet warning that you can’t trade loyalty and market goodwill without paying a price.
In short, Stephen A.’s vision of the 2025 Mavericks is that of a phoenix—or perhaps a pressure cooker, depending on how you view it. He’s drawn a line: Dallas can rise, but only if its management stays true, its players stay healthy, and its fans are brought along. Otherwise, this could be a cautionary tale of ambition surpassing execution.
So, was that a take on the “2025 NFL season”? Not quite. The narrative Stephen A. has built around the Mavericks is strictly NBA. If there’s any crossover into the NFL, it’d likely involve his usual Dallas Cowboys commentary—where he’s floated everything from tanking for Shedeur Sanders to lobbying for Deion Sanders as coach (the-sun.com, the-sun.com). But that’s a separate saga altogether.
What’s clear is this: on the Mavericks, Stephen A. is bullish on long-term promise but skeptical of short-term stability. He thinks the Flagg pick is as much cultural flashpoint as basketball decision. And though he questions the Dončić trade, he respects the strategy. His bottom line? Dallas is entering a new chapter, one with potential and peril in near-equal measure. And he’ll be watching closely—a blend of loudmouth realism and contrarian hope.
Expect more from Stephen A. as the 2025–26 season unfolds. He’ll critique every move, hype every breakout, and moderate every hot take with unmistakable bravado. For Mavericks fans and critics alike, this transition year might just be the most compelling in franchise history—and Stephen A. is making sure we don’t miss a beat.
