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LAS VEGAS – Summer league play started very slow for the Dallas Mavericks. But they finished it with a bang.
After losing their first two games in Sin City to the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavs re-grouped and showed some promising signs while winning their final three games against the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks. Before players went their separate ways following Friday’s convincing 110-88 victory over the Knicks, the Mavs looked back with fond memories over the summer league’s 3-2 record.
“Our goal was to win, and I think we did it,” center Jorge Diaz Graham said. “We struggled a little bit at the start, but it was normal – it was our first games.
“I feel like once we knew each other a little better we just got so much better and we started having more fun. We just figured out each other, we started knowing who’s doing what and we just played our best basketball at the end.”
Rookie Morez Johnson Jr., the No. 9 overall pick in last month’s NBA Draft, only played the first two games and averaged 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. That includes scoring 27 points, grabbing eight rebounds, making three steals and blocking two shots in the summer league opener against the Warriors.
Ryan Nembhard, undrafted in 2025, also played just the first two games and averaged 13.5 points and eight assists. That includes a 15-point, 11-assist game against the Warriors.
As the summer league progressed, the Mavs picked up steam and players like Sergio De Larrea, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, John Poulakidas, Darin Green Jr., Vsevolod Ishchenko, Jaden Springer, Tyler Smith, Tobi Lawal and Graham stepped up their games with the increased amount of minutes that came their way.
De Larrea’s finest moment came when he collected nine rebounds and 14 assists during Thursday’s 97-87 win over the Thunder. He also finished with 16 points and 12 assists in the 96-88 win over the Grizzlies.
Both games represented a masterful playmaking performance by De Larrea, who displayed some exceptional passing skills and an uncanny feel for the game.
“I think the next step for him will probably be I think a lot of teams will be so scared of him playing in pick-and-roll against coverage that he’ll face a lot of more switching in the regular season and there will be opportunities for him to create one-on-one and to go finish at the rim and finish contested layups,” summer league coach Joe Boylan said. “I think that’s going to be the next step in his growth. Just the ability to break down his man and go in and finish contested layups.”
Akobundu-Ehiogu’s best game came when he used his amazing leaping abilities to turn five passes near the rim into picturesque alley-oop dunks. Meanwhile, Poulakidas scored 37 points and converted 10-of-19 three-pointers in the final two games against the Thunder and Knicks.
Also, Smith completely turned the game against the Knicks upside down when he nailed four three-pointers in a little over two minutes in the pivotal third quarter. Overall, he scored 21 points and was 6-of-12 from three-point land against the Knicks.
“Early on I didn’t play much,” Smith said. “You’ve got guys in this league that get paid a lot of money to come off the bench and knock down a few shots and come right back out the game. I showed coach that I can do that as well.
“Just showing coach that I can play at this level. Whether it happens or not, just showing him that I can compete at the highest level.”
When he was on the floor with De Larrea, Smith knew there would be more opportunities to get buckets since the rookie from Spain is a pass-first point guard.
“Playing with Sergio, he made it a lot easier on the court,” Smith said. “When you have 14 assists and nine rebounds, there’s not many rebounds out there for me to get when the point guard is out there getting (nine) of them.
“But like we say, we want to play fast. And 14 assists kind of helps me out as well.”
Boylan was particularly pleased with the 6-11 twins – Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham.
“I think their ability to shoot, dribble, pass, bring length to the defensive end, block shots, shrink the court, their personality, their character, how they cheer for their teammates, those are guys you want to have around,” Boylan said. “I’m so happy that they’re around and that they’re in the program right now. I think those guys have major potential.”
Jorge was especially pleased with what he was able to show the Mavs’ coaches. After scoring just three points and playing only 13 minutes in the first two games, he had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals against Memphis, and 15 points, 12 boards and five against the Knicks.
“I was not expecting anything that happened this week,” Jorge said. “I appreciate the Dallas Mavericks and the entire coaching staff for supporting me and giving me the confidence to go out there and play my basketball, which is what I did.
“So, I’m super happy with what I did and I’m super grateful.”
The Mavs as a whole are also super happy they were able to end summer league play with a three-game winning streak.
X: @DwainPrice