From Doncic to Flagg: How the Mavericks Transformed Their Starting Five from 2024 Finals Run to 2025 Season Opener

The Dallas Mavericks reached the NBA Finals in 2024 behind the brilliance of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, but the franchise that took the court for the 2025 season opener looked nothing like the one that fell just short of a championship. Gone were Dončić, Irving, and most of the key contributors from that deep playoff run. In their place stood a group that signaled an entirely new era—one defined by youth, star power, and an unmistakable commitment to reinvention.

The 2024 Finals starting five—Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford—was the product of midseason trades, veteran savvy, and Dončić’s transcendent brilliance. That team had chemistry and firepower, and even though it fell to the Boston Celtics in five games, it gave Dallas fans a sense of belief they hadn’t felt since Dirk Nowitzki lifted the trophy in 2011.

But the offseason brought shockwaves.

The first domino to fall was Dončić. Discontent reportedly brewed behind the scenes. Frustrated with the front office’s long-term vision, Dončić requested a trade, and Dallas obliged, sending him to the New York Knicks in a massive blockbuster that netted draft picks and cap space. It was a seismic moment—the face of the franchise walking out the door at the peak of his powers.

Then came Kyrie Irving. With Dončić gone, Irving opted out of his deal, joining the Phoenix Suns on a short-term contract to chase another ring. Just like that, the backcourt that carried Dallas through the playoffs was gone.

But this wasn’t a teardown. Far from it.

The Mavericks quickly flipped the narrative, pulling off a bold string of moves that stunned the league and reset the franchise’s trajectory overnight.

First came Anthony Davis. Fresh off another frustrating postseason with the Lakers, Davis signaled a willingness to be traded. Dallas pounced, sending a mix of picks and young players to Los Angeles in exchange for the eight-time All-Star. Davis embraced the move, motivated by a fresh start and the opportunity to mentor a once-in-a-generation rookie.

That rookie? Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Dallas struck lottery gold when it landed the top pick in the wake of Dončić’s departure. And Flagg—a 6-foot-9 phenom out of Duke—was the prize. With his defensive instincts, two-way versatility, and growing offensive game, Flagg was hailed as the NBA’s next superstar before he ever laced up for a professional game.

The Mavericks didn’t stop there.

They signed Klay Thompson, the veteran sharpshooter whose run with the Golden State Warriors had come to an end. While his days as a go-to scorer might be behind him, Thompson brought championship pedigree, floor spacing, and leadership to a roster that was quickly reloading.

And then, in perhaps the most eyebrow-raising move of the offseason, Dallas added D’Angelo Russell, a polarizing guard known for his shot-making and playmaking ability. He signed a team-friendly two-year deal, embracing a secondary role in what he called a “team on the edge of something new.”

Anchoring the lineup was Dereck Lively II, the second-year center who had shown flashes of elite rim protection and rebounding in his rookie campaign. His development was a point of emphasis for the coaching staff, and the presence of Davis next to him promised to accelerate his growth.

So, when the 2025 season tipped off, the Mavericks’ starting five looked like this: D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II.

On paper, it was an entirely different unit. In spirit, it represented a fusion of eras—the future (Flagg and Lively), the present (Davis), and the past (Thompson).

The contrast between the two lineups—2024 Finals and 2025 opener—couldn’t have been more stark.

The Dončić-Irving backcourt was a combustible combination of genius and volatility, able to take over games but occasionally overlapping in unproductive ways. Derrick Jones Jr. and PJ Washington were defensive-minded wings who thrived in the margins, while Gafford played above the rim and provided valuable interior energy.

That team was built to compete with Dončić. It wasn’t designed to thrive without him.

But the new-look Mavericks? They were designed to grow together.

Flagg was the centerpiece. In his debut, he scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and blocked three shots—a performance that echoed the hype and validated the organization’s bold strategy. Davis looked rejuvenated, pouring in 24 points and grabbing 12 boards. Lively continued to thrive as a lob threat and rim protector, while Klay and DLo combined for 35 points and 10 assists, showing early signs of chemistry in the backcourt.

There were growing pains, of course. Flagg had moments where the speed of the game challenged him. Thompson occasionally struggled to keep up defensively. And Russell had his share of questionable shot selection. But the upside was undeniable.

More importantly, the locker room vibe had shifted. There was less tension, more cohesion. Davis, once seen as aloof, was smiling again. Thompson, once the quiet shooter in the shadows of Steph and Draymond, had embraced a mentorship role. And Flagg? He wasn’t trying to be Luka. He was trying to be himself—and that was more than enough.

From a tactical standpoint, the new Mavs were longer, more athletic, and better equipped to defend in space. With Davis and Lively patrolling the paint, and Flagg wreaking havoc on the perimeter, they held their season-opening opponent to just 97 points—an encouraging sign for a team that ranked in the bottom third defensively the season before.

Offensively, the spacing was a work in progress. Thompson provided gravity on the wing, and Russell’s pick-and-roll game looked crisp, especially with Lively. But the offense often ran through Flagg at the elbow or Davis in the high post—an adjustment from the heliocentric Dončić-led attack.

That shift—away from one ball-dominant star and toward a more democratic offense—was part of the plan. Head coach Jason Kidd (still at the helm) spoke postgame about the new identity:

“We’re not trying to replicate what Luka did,” Kidd said. “That would be impossible. We’re building a different kind of team now. Cooper’s a huge part of that, but so is AD, so is Klay. It’s going to take time, but we like where we’re headed.”

Fans seemed to agree. The American Airlines Center was electric on opening night. Flagg’s every touch drew cheers. Thompson’s first three-pointer nearly blew the roof off. Davis’s alley-oop slam in the third quarter had the bench on its feet.

This wasn’t just a new team—it was a new experience.

Of course, there are skeptics. Some believe Russell is a temporary fit. Others question Thompson’s durability or Davis’s long-term health. And Flagg, despite the generational label, still has to prove he can lead a team through the grind of an 82-game season.

But the Mavericks, for all their chaos and change, did something few franchises can pull off: they pivoted from one superstar era to another with purpose, vision, and conviction.

The Luka Era ended with a Finals loss. But the Flagg Era began with something far more powerful—hope.

And in Dallas, that might be the most valuable asset of all.