Stephen A. Smith Boldly Predicts Dallas Mavericks 2026 NBA Championship If Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving Remain Healthy Throughout Playoffs
The NBA is built on storylines, and when Stephen A. Smith speaks, the sports world listens. Known for his bold, often polarizing takes, Smith has once again captured the attention of fans everywhere by putting a spotlight on the Dallas Mavericks and their potential to claim basketball’s greatest prize. During a recent broadcast, Smith was emphatic that if Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving stay healthy—and Davis consistently delivers his best—the Mavericks could very well be crowned the 2026 NBA champions. It’s a prediction dripping with both optimism and skepticism, a testament to the high-risk, high-reward nature of banking on two of the league’s most talented but historically fragile stars. Smith’s exact words carried weight: “If Anthony Davis, if Kyrie Irving is healthy and [AD] brings his A game, the Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship. That’s a big if. It’s legit and everybody knows it.”
Those remarks immediately sparked debates across television panels, social media threads, and barbershop conversations alike. The Mavericks, already led by Luka Dončić—the dynamic and generational superstar whose brilliance has placed him among the league’s elite—could become an unstoppable force if Irving and Davis were at their peak during the postseason. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the trio of Dončić, Irving, and Davis would rival or even surpass any “Big Three” currently assembled in the NBA. Yet, the operative phrase remains “if healthy,” a caveat that has followed both Irving and Davis throughout much of their careers.
Kyrie Irving, despite being one of the most dazzling ball handlers and clutch shot-makers the league has ever seen, has a reputation for being unreliable when injuries mount or when off-court distractions creep in. His health has often been the deciding factor between his teams being contenders or falling short. From his unforgettable championship run with LeBron James in Cleveland to his more turbulent stints in Boston and Brooklyn, Irving’s legacy has become a balancing act of undeniable skill weighed against the frustration of inconsistency. For Dallas fans, seeing Irving alongside Luka last season proved what he could bring to the table when engaged, healthy, and fully locked in. His offensive creativity and ability to complement Luka’s playmaking made the Mavericks look like a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses.
On the other hand, Anthony Davis is a player who has long been hailed as one of the most gifted big men of his generation. When locked in, Davis is nearly unguardable—a defensive anchor with elite rim protection, rebounding, and the ability to stretch the floor offensively. Yet his career has been defined just as much by his injury history as by his accomplishments. The 2020 championship run with the Los Angeles Lakers showcased Davis at his absolute peak, dominating on both ends of the court and silencing critics about his toughness and ability to carry a team on the game’s biggest stage. However, that level of sustained excellence has been difficult for Davis to replicate consistently due to his recurring absences.
Stephen A. Smith, never one to shy away from stirring conversation, has essentially placed the Mavericks’ championship hopes into the hands of two of the most unpredictable stars in basketball. His words carry both a challenge and a warning: the Mavericks could be legendary if health holds, but the fragility of that equation makes the prediction precarious. For Dallas, the tantalizing vision is there—a healthy Davis protecting the paint, Kyrie dazzling in the backcourt, and Luka orchestrating as the maestro. In a league built on star power, few teams could match that level of combined talent.
The Western Conference, however, remains a battlefield. The Golden State Warriors, even as their dynasty ages, continue to reload and present a dangerous challenge. The Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokić, have proven to be one of the most formidable opponents in recent years. The Phoenix Suns with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal cannot be overlooked either. And the young up-and-coming teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Memphis Grizzlies could rise at any moment. Stephen A.’s bold prediction, then, isn’t just about Dallas being good enough to win—it’s about them being able to survive a gauntlet of other elite competition in the West before even thinking about hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
That’s where the uncertainty comes in. History shows us that talent alone does not secure championships. Chemistry, resilience, health, and timely performances are equally crucial. The 2020 Lakers, for example, won because Davis and LeBron James were both healthy and playing at their highest level, while the role players around them stepped up. The Mavericks would need a similar convergence of circumstances. Beyond Davis and Irving, players like Dereck Lively II, Josh Green, and Tim Hardaway Jr. would need to contribute significantly, while the front office would likely need to fortify the bench with depth for a grueling playoff run.
What makes Stephen A.’s proclamation so fascinating is its all-or-nothing nature. He isn’t hedging by saying Dallas “could” be contenders if Davis and Irving are healthy; he is flat-out declaring them champions under those circumstances. That type of boldness forces everyone to re-examine the Mavericks’ ceiling and recognize just how dangerous they could be at full strength. It also puts pressure on the players themselves—whether fair or not. Davis and Irving are now part of a conversation that frames them as the deciding factors in a franchise’s championship dreams.
For Luka Dončić, this prediction is perhaps the most exciting. Long heralded as a future face of the league, Luka has carried a heavy load in Dallas for years. With Irving and Davis at his side, he would finally have the kind of supporting cast capable of alleviating some of that burden. Imagine Luka orchestrating pick-and-rolls with Davis while Irving spaces the floor or slashes into the paint—it’s the kind of offensive scheme that would force defenses into impossible decisions. And defensively, Davis’ presence would cover many of the team’s weaknesses, giving Dallas a balance they’ve often lacked.
Still, the skepticism remains unavoidable. Irving has only played more than 70 games in a season three times in his entire career. Davis, similarly, has played fewer than 50 games multiple times due to injuries. The NBA calendar is long and unforgiving, and expecting both stars to be healthy come playoff time is a gamble history advises against. Yet, as Smith pointed out, if it does happen, the Mavericks’ path to a championship suddenly looks more realistic than ever.
The prediction also highlights the evolving narrative around Dallas. For years, they’ve been seen as a one-star team—Luka Dončić doing everything while the supporting cast struggled to rise to the occasion. Bringing in Kyrie shifted that perception, even if doubts about long-term stability lingered. Now, with the idea of pairing Davis alongside them, the Mavericks leap into the conversation of superteams. It may still be hypothetical, but it forces rival teams and fans to recognize the possibilities.
Stephen A. Smith’s words are more than just hot takes; they shape discourse. They influence fan expectations, generate headlines, and sometimes even add fuel to players’ motivations. Dallas now finds itself under a brighter spotlight than before, with a narrative of destiny tied to health and consistency. For Mavericks fans, the idea of seeing Luka, Kyrie, and AD parading through Dallas streets with the Larry O’Brien Trophy is intoxicating. For skeptics, it feels like déjà vu—a storyline we’ve heard before about stars who never quite managed to stay on the floor when it mattered most.
At the heart of the matter is one undeniable truth: the NBA is about “what ifs.” Every season, there are teams whose fortunes shift due to injuries, breakout performances, or shocking trades. Smith’s declaration doesn’t guarantee anything, but it crystallizes the most intriguing “what if” of the coming season. What if Davis stays healthy? What if Kyrie remains locked in? What if the Mavericks finally have all the pieces in place? If those questions turn into answers, then Dallas may indeed have its parade in 2026, and Stephen A. Smith will stand vindicated. If not, his words will simply become another entry in the long history of sports predictions that never quite came to pass.
Either way, the conversation has already begun, and for the Mavericks, that spotlight alone is a reminder of the expectations that now hover over them.
