Stephen A Makes Bold Prediction About 2025-26 Mavericks
How will Dallas' 2025-26 season end up?
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith appeared as a guest on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast recently and made a bold prediction concerning the Dallas Mavericks. Speaking with host Carmelo Anthony, Stephen A predicted that the Mavericks, if healthy, will win the 2026 NBA Finals.
“If Kyrie Irving comes back healthy and Anthony Davis is healthy, I think Dallas should be the favorite to win it all,” Smith said.
“Let me tell you why I feel this way. Oklahoma (City) is the reigning defending camp. They pretty much had their way with most teams (in 2024-25) before the Finals.”
“(But) not Dallas,” Smith continued. “The year before (2023-24), they (beat) Oklahoma City (in the playoffs) … Kyrie and those boys is that kryptonite.”
“Cooper Flagg can play,” Smith added. “And then not only that, you got Anthony Davis, who doesn’t have to play the five. I got news for you: Lively, Gafford and these brothers can play. Then you got P.J. Washington, who can play. Jason Kidd can coach.”
“I believe that the Dallas Mavericks, if healthy, will win the championship.”
Irving tore his ACL on March 3, and it’s unclear when he will return, although he’s looked good in some leaked workout videos recently.
Then there’s Flagg, who is expected to step right in and make an impact from day one. Flagg looked the part in preseason and adds an X-factor element to the Mavericks that could make them one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA moving forward.
