The Dallas Mavericks have exercised the fourth‑year team option on former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, keeping him through the 2027‑28 season. After a promising rookie year with Atlanta but limited playoff minutes, Risacher impressed in Dallas’ preseason and is now a regular in Dusty May’s rotation, averaging 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks in about 30 minutes per game. The move guarantees his roster spot and sets up potential restricted free agency in 2028 as the Mavericks sit 2‑2 early in the 2026‑27 campaign.
The former No. 1 pick has 8 steals and 8 blocks through four games in Dallas, tied for the second-most combined in the NBA this season.
Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts will retire at the end of 2026, and team president Ethan Casson will take over as CEO and alternate governor. Welts, 73, returned from retirement in 2024 and praised the seamless transition. Casson, who joined Dallas in 2025, brings experience from the Timberwolves, WNBA Lynx and a stint as COO of the 49ers, plus stadium‑development expertise crucial for the Mavericks' arena plans. Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont highlighted the strong partnership that paved the way for this well‑planned handoff.
After scoring 29 points against Spoelstra's Heat, the Mavericks star said he would love to play for his country if he is ever asked.
Jeff Teague says Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is more exciting to watch than Luka Doncic, citing Flagg’s high‑fly dunking and all‑around flair on the Club 520 podcast. After apologizing for earlier remarks, Teague likened Flagg to LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, noting his recent historic line of 25 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals – the first teenager ever to achieve that stat‑sheet. Flagg now averages 25.0 points, 6.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds, leads the league with 3.7 steals per game and shoots 62% effective field goal percentage, fueling the hype ahead of his sophomore season.
Washington made four 3-pointers, tied up Antetokounmpo for three jump balls, and grabbed the game's final rebound in the 113-109 win.
Risacher added 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a steal, and Dallas was plus-9 in his minutes as May said nobody on the roster will tell him to stop shooting.
Bam Adebayo fires back at critics after the Miami Heat stumble to an 0-4 start, including a 113-109 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Despite the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Adebayo says he’s being unfairly scapegoated, noting his recent dip to 11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting just 16.7% from three. He finished with eight points on 3‑of‑10 shooting versus Dallas, a stark drop from his 20.1‑point, 10‑rebound average last season. Antetokounmpo backs him, stressing the whole roster is still adjusting. The Heat aim to snap the streak against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts announces his retirement at the end of 2026, handing the reins to President Ethan Casson as the team's new CEO and alternate governor. Welts, a Hall of Famer who returned in 2024 after stints with the Suns, Warriors and the NBA, has overseen a major organizational overhaul. Casson, who joined Dallas in 2025 after leading the Timberwolves/Lynx and serving as COO of the 49ers, brings 20+ years of sports‑business experience to guide the franchise into its next chapter.
Rick Welts is set to retire from his position as CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. The out gay executive has had a Hall of Fame career.
Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson pours $67.6 million into the 2025‑26 federal election cycle, with $25 million directed to MAGA Inc., the super PAC backing Donald Trump. Her contributions also include $30 million to the Senate Leadership Fund and $10 million to the Conservative Leadership Fund, plus a six‑figure donation to the RNC and aid for GOP senators Pete Ricketts and Tim Scott. Adelson’s spending dwarfs other NBA owners—DeVos brothers ($4 million), Tony Ressler ($2.7 million), and the Haslams ($2 million)—making her one of the most influential Republican donors in sports. The money arrives as control of Congress hangs in the balance for the November midterms.
Kyrie Irving and Caleb Martin remain questionable for Wednesday's 8:30 p.m. CT tip-off, and Sergio De Larrea and Dereck Lively II are also out.
Walter Clayton Jr. steps up for the Mavericks, scoring 15 points on 6‑of‑7 shooting in a 113‑109 win over the Miami Heat on Oct. 28, 2026. After playing in the morning’s stay‑ready session, the bench rookie logged 17:10 minutes, added four rebounds, four assists and a block, and helped Dallas out‑score Miami by 22 points while on the floor. Coach Dusty May praised his poise, and teammate Cooper Flagg highlighted his intensity. Signed to a two‑way deal on Oct. 21, Clayton’s double‑figure debut follows a brief stint with Memphis and a 2025 first‑round selection that led Florida to a national title.
The Raptors open October without Kawhi Leonard, who faces weeks on the bench after a swollen left knee MRI shows no structural damage, leaving Toronto to test the depth of players like Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray‑Boyles, Allen Graves, Kyle Anderson, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. Meanwhile, the Mavericks must decide by Monday whether to pick up Zaccharie Risacher’s $17.4 million 2027‑28 option despite his 30.8% shooting, as his defense—eight steals and eight blocks in four games—offers promise. In Houston, Alperen Sengün suffers a mild back strain that could sideline him for a few games, prompting the Rockets to adjust their scoring and playmaking until he returns.
The Mavericks face a deadline to decide on exercising Zaccharie Rischer’s $17.4 million rookie option, with the former No. 1 pick battling a 30.8% field‑goal rate but leading the league in “stocks” (steals + blocks) at 16 in four games. Coach Dusty May praises his defensive impact despite missed shots. Meanwhile, Rockets center Alperen Şengün deals with a mild back strain that could sideline him for several games, while former NBA big man Omer Yurtseven joins the Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ training camp. In Memphis, Ty Jerome rebounds from a calf injury, posting 29.8 points and 6.3 assists in a 4‑0 start and earning Player of the Week honors.
On the Build or Break podcast, former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban says selling his controlling stake forced him to confront tough realities about his role in basketball operations. He explains how his expectations of staying involved clashed with the new ownership structure and shares the key lessons he’s taken from the deal, which closed earlier this year.
Two days after missing a game with a shoulder injury, rookie Cooper Flagg posts a 29‑point, 11‑assist, 6‑rebound double‑double to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 113‑109 win over the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Flagg also blocks Andrew Wiggins’s three‑pointer in the final minute and scores the clinching layup with 10 seconds left. The performance marks his 14th career double‑double and ties his assist high, while coach Dusty May praises Flagg’s focus and unselfish play as the Mavericks aim for more meaningful games.
Dallas Mavericks guard Walter Clayton Jr. says his move to Dallas marks a fresh start after an “up‑and‑down” rookie season split between the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz in 2025‑26. He reflects on the inconsistencies of his first year and expresses optimism about the opportunity to contribute in Dallas.
After a 113-109 loss to Dallas leaves the Miami Heat 0-4, head coach Erik Spoelstra faces another dilemma: how to maximize the value of Nikola Jovic’s $62 million contract. The 23‑year‑old, a 2022 first‑round pick, saw his minutes drop from 24 in the season opener to none against Dallas as Spoelstra searches for a consistent role for him. Jovic acknowledges the inconsistency but remains ready for more responsibility as Miami hopes to snap its skid against Atlanta. The article explores the roster adjustments, Jovic’s contract and the broader challenges the Heat must solve this early in the 2026‑27 season.
ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst likens Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg to a 19‑year‑old LeBron James, noting Flagg’s historic line—29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, five steals and three blocks—in Dallas’ 113‑109 win over Miami. Flagg became the first teen to tally at least 25 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals in a game, and Windhorst argues he exceeds LeBron’s defensive versatility and fundamentals at that age, though LeBron was a bigger offensive force. The comparison comes despite Flagg playing through a shoulder sprain.
Zaccharie Risacher has struggled offensively for the Dallas Mavericks, but his defensive impact makes him someone that Dusty May can't keep off the floor.
Cooper Flagg returns from a sprained left shoulder to spark the Dallas Mavericks' 113-109 road win over the Miami Heat on Monday, delivering a versatile performance that shows no lingering limits. In the same piece, Coach Dusty May issues a daring forecast about Flagg's future impact. The article highlights Flagg's key stats, the tight game finish, and May’s prediction, offering insight into the Mavericks’ evolving lineup.
Dallas Mavericks forward Santi Aldmeno is edging closer to his first NBA appearance after a right‑knee arthroscopic surgery. The club announced on Tuesday that he has been assigned to the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ G‑League affiliate, to take part in practice sessions as part of his return‑to‑play protocol. The move signals that Aldema’s rehab is progressing well, bringing fans hope he could debut later this season.
The Miami Heat open the 2026-27 season 0-4, struggling to integrate Giannis Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo after a recent home loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Dwyley Wade likens the chemistry issue to his early days with LeBron James in 2010, while former teammate Chris Bosh urges Coach Erik Spoelstra to fire up Giannis with more screens, rolls, and pin‑downs and to make Adebayo more aggressive. Critics note Adebayo’s passive start contrasts sharply with his 83‑point outburst against Washington last year. The Heat hope to snap the skid on Wednesday in Atlanta.
The Dallas Mavericks announce that stretch big Santi Aldama, acquired in a July six‑team deal, moves from the Texas Legends back to the active roster as part of his return‑to‑play protocol. Initially listed as "out," Aldama is now "doubtful" for the Wednesday game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and could debut on Friday versus the Houston Rockets or Monday versus the Sacramento Kings. Averaging 15 points per game last season, his floor‑running, lane‑filling skill set could bolster a Mavericks squad that already posted wins over Indiana, a healed Tyrese Haliburton, and a revamped Miami Heat.