By: Marselis Davis
During this week of the offseason, there has not been much activity in the NBA market. There have not been many trades that have taken place nor any notable free agency signings. However, there was still a handful of news relating to the Dallas Mavericks franchise this week. The first thing focuses on Mavericks’ legend Dirk Nowitzki’s upcoming induction into the Hall of Fame. The second thing was that the NBA has officially confirmed the Maverick’s matchups on Opening Day and Christmas Day.
Dirk’s Hall of Fame Induction
On August 12, the NBA will be holding the 2023 enshrinement ceremony for this year’s inductees into the Hall of Fame. The 2023 Hall of Fame Class appears to be one of the strongest Hall of Fame classes in NBA history. Multiple NBA greats like Dwayne Wade, Pau Gasol, and Tony Parker are set to enter the Hall of Fame.
Among these NBA greats includes the Maverick’s greatest player, Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki retired after the 2019 season and became eligible to enter the Hall of Fame this year. He was easily voted in, making him a 1st-ballot Hall of Famer. This is no surprise, as Nowitzki’s career accomplishments are extensive and impressive. The enshrinement will just serve as another testimony to Nowitzki’s all-time great legacy.
Maverick’s Upcoming Schedule
According to NBA Insider Shams Charina, The Athletic, and Stadium, the Maverick’s opponents for Opening Day and Christmas Day have been confirmed. On Opening Day, the Mavericks are reportedly expected to face off against the San Antonio Spurs. This will probably be the most viewed game on Opening Night, as many will tune in to see the debut of Victor Wembanyama. This would also be an interesting matchup because the favorite to win MVP in Luka Doncic would be playing against the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year in Wembanyama.
On Christmas Day, the Mavericks are expected to play against an old foe in the Phoenix Suns. There has been quite a history between these two franchises, dating all the way back to the 2018 Draft. It began when the Suns selected Deandre Ayton over Doncic in the draft, a decision that has not aged well in hindsight. Since then, their rivalry has grown after the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals, in which the Mavericks upset the one-seeded Suns in seven games. The Mavericks then played the Suns four times in the 2023 regular season, with each of them winning two games. There has also been a lot of trash talking and chatter between the two teams, mainly between Doncic and Booker. The fact that Durant and Irving are also on each of the respective teams following their separation from the Nets also makes this rivalry more intriguing.
While there have not been any significant updates in the Maverick’s future offseason plans, there has still been a bit of interesting information about the Mavericks this week. Hopefully, Nowitzki will have a memorable speech at his enshrinement ceremony and the Mavericks will come out victorious on their key matchups heading into the 2024 season.