Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 draft pick, steps into a high-wire rookie season with Dallas, where expectations must be tempered as he learns NBA pace and primary creation on a veteran roster.

Jason Kidd pushes him to run the show at point guard, embracing risk and turnover as growth tools, while teammates buy into his leadership. With Kyrie Irving sidelined early, Flagg could shoulder primary ball-handling duties to start the season.

It's a bold test of Flagg's ceiling and Dallas' willingness to accelerate development around a youthful, dynamic playmaker.

Cooper Flagg pushes into Dallas’s rotation as a dynamic rookie, while D’Angelo Russell steps in to stabilize the backcourt during Kyrie Irving’s injury recovery.

The Mavericks roll out an expanded jersey lineup for 2025-26: familiar Association white, royal blue Icon Edition with silver numerals, dark blue Statement Edition, a new City Edition, and Hardwood Classics green for the 45th anniversary.

With Doncic anchoring the offense and Kidd guiding the group, Dallas blends youth and experience as they navigate the early schedule and seek a versatile, depth-driven attack in the season ahead.

Dallas hosts Los Angeles in Las Vegas for a preseason clash where Kyrie Irving is out. LeBron James is expected to miss the start of the season with a right-sciatica issue, leaving the Lakers shorthanded and testing Doncic’s availability after back-to-back travel.

Dallas features Anthony Davis and rookie Cooper Flagg with Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II; Doncic’s status remains fluid, as the Lakers plan to use him in only one of two remaining exhibitions. They’ll meet again on Nov. 28 and later in Dallas.

Jason Kidd signed a multiyear extension with Dallas as the season opens against San Antonio, signaling stability after a turbulent 2024-25. The move comes as Dallas navigates a post-trade rebuild and health questions around their core.

Dallas traded Luka Dončić to the Lakers in February 2025 for Anthony Davis, endured Kyrie Irving injuries, and clawed into the Play-In before a lottery win brought Cooper Flagg. Flagg joins a retooled frontcourt with Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, while D’Angelo Russell handles the ball until Irving’s status is resolved. Health and defense shape the ceiling.

With Flagg, Davis and Lively II anchoring the frontcourt and veteran wings like Klay Thompson and Max Christie in the fold, Dallas aims for a top defensive profile and a postseason push if Irving returns healthy. Early schedule versus the Spurs could set the tone for a compact West sprint and fantasy relevance across multiple lineups.

Bijan Robinson shattered the Monday Night Football stage with an 81-yard rushing touchdown, the longest run of the season, as the Falcons toppled the Bills 24-14. He totalled 238 yards from scrimmage, 170 rushing, to push his season total to 822, leading the NFL in scrimmage yards despite Atlanta's bye week late in Week 5. LeBron James publicly lauded Robinson, and Robinson underscored a growing, mentorship-like bond via Klutch Sports Group with Rich Paul guiding his off-field path.

Robinson’s mindset blends basketball craft with football aggression, drawing inspiration from Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving, and Stephen Curry. He likened creases to Curry’s on-click rhythm, stressing the importance of exploiting blocks and sidestepping tacklers. The James connection and cross-sport influences elevate Robinson as a high-end fantasy staple and MVP chatter, while his postgame reflections emphasize love and continued growth.