Stephen A. Smith Declares Mavericks Can Win NBA Championship If Anthony Davis And Kyrie Irving Stay Healthy And Deliver Consistently

Stephen A. Smith has never been shy about offering bold takes, and his latest one has Dallas Mavericks fans buzzing with a mix of hope and skepticism. According to the outspoken ESPN analyst, the Mavericks hold the keys to an NBA championship—if two major conditions are met. “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,” Smith declared on air, sparking a wave of conversation across the basketball world. The statement highlights both the incredible potential and the glaring uncertainty that define this current Mavericks roster, a team loaded with star talent but also carrying baggage in the form of injuries, inconsistency, and what-if scenarios.

For years, the Mavericks have been a franchise with flashes of brilliance. Luka Dončić has firmly established himself as one of the league’s brightest young superstars, an offensive juggernaut capable of controlling every possession and carrying a team on his back. Kyrie Irving, despite all the controversy and injury concerns throughout his career, remains one of the most skilled ball handlers and clutch shot-makers the game has ever seen. And in this hypothetical world where Anthony Davis dons a Mavericks uniform and consistently delivers his best, Dallas would indeed be a nightmare for the rest of the league. A healthy Davis is a defensive anchor, rim protector, and versatile scorer who can completely alter the dynamics of a game. Pair that with Dončić’s playmaking and Irving’s scoring, and it is easy to see why Stephen A. would call them a championship recipe.

But the problem with recipes is that every ingredient has to come together at the right time. For Dallas, the million-dollar question is whether Davis can stay healthy and consistently bring his A game. Since winning the 2020 championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis has battled through a long list of injuries that have hindered his ability to dominate night in and night out. On his best nights, he looks like the most unstoppable big man in the league, a two-way force capable of changing the entire outcome of a playoff series. On his worst nights, when nagging injuries limit his mobility or aggressiveness, he can disappear for stretches, leaving his team vulnerable. That inconsistency is why analysts like Smith always couch their praise with a warning: it’s a big if.

For Kyrie Irving, the challenge is similar but slightly different. His talent has never been in question—when healthy and engaged, he is one of the most electrifying guards in NBA history. But his career has been marked by absences, whether due to injury, personal matters, or off-court controversies. For the Mavericks to make a deep championship run, they need the version of Kyrie who can complement Luka’s brilliance by taking over in crunch time, hitting impossible shots, and keeping defenses honest. The Kyrie who struggles with availability or cohesion could just as easily derail Dallas’ title hopes. That is why Smith’s condition of health looms so large. Talent is not the issue. Availability and consistency are.

If you step back and look at the Mavericks’ potential lineup in this scenario, it is easy to be seduced by the possibilities. Luka Dončić controlling the floor, Anthony Davis dominating the paint, Kyrie Irving torching defenses on the perimeter—this is the stuff of nightmares for opposing coaches. Add in Dallas’ supporting cast, which includes shooters, versatile defenders, and an improving bench, and the Mavericks suddenly look like a powerhouse with no real weaknesses. Davis would provide the interior presence Dallas has lacked in recent years, giving them not only rim protection but also a reliable inside scoring option to balance Luka’s perimeter dominance. Irving would relieve pressure off Luka in high-stakes moments, ensuring defenses cannot simply overload on one player. In theory, this is a championship formula.

But the NBA is not won in theory. Every season is littered with teams that looked unbeatable on paper but fell short because health, chemistry, or timing failed them. The Brooklyn Nets’ failed superteam experiment with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden remains the most recent reminder of how fragile a dream roster can be. Injuries and off-court drama prevented that group from ever reaching its potential, and what was supposed to be a dynasty ended in disappointment. Mavericks fans know all too well how fragile momentum can be, having seen Luka’s incredible performances wasted at times due to defensive breakdowns or injuries to his co-stars. That is why Smith’s statement resonates: it is not about whether Dallas has the talent, but whether they can align the stars when it matters.

Another angle to consider is coaching and leadership. Jason Kidd has drawn both praise and criticism during his tenure in Dallas, but there is no denying that he has helped Luka grow into the leader of this team. With a talent like Davis added to the mix, managing egos, rotations, and health would become one of the most challenging tasks in the league. Winning a championship requires more than just three stars—it demands cohesion, sacrifice, and buy-in from everyone on the roster. For Stephen A.’s prophecy to come true, Dallas would not only need Davis and Kyrie to stay healthy and engaged but also need the rest of the team to embrace their roles perfectly. It would take a collective effort, with everyone from the starters to the last man on the bench contributing in some way.

The question then becomes: is it worth betting on that “if”? Mavericks fans are no strangers to dreaming big. The 2011 championship run, led by Dirk Nowitzki, remains one of the most cherished moments in franchise history, a triumph of perseverance, teamwork, and belief. Now, with Luka already cementing himself as a generational superstar, the window for Dallas to return to that mountaintop is wide open. But unlike 2011, when the Mavericks relied on a well-rounded roster and a singular transcendent leader, this current vision hinges on multiple stars being healthy and delivering simultaneously. That is a much riskier bet, but one that could pay off in historic fashion if it comes together.

The NBA is often defined by superteams and superstar pairings. From the Shaq-Kobe Lakers to the LeBron-Wade-Bosh Heat to the Curry-Durant Warriors, the formula for championships has consistently involved assembling as much star power as possible and finding a way to make it work. If Davis and Irving can stay healthy alongside Luka, Dallas would have a trio that could rival any in league history. Their offensive firepower would overwhelm opponents, and their defensive ceiling, anchored by Davis, would give them the versatility to adapt in any playoff matchup. That is why Smith’s statement, while cautious, carries so much weight. It acknowledges the reality that Dallas could be unstoppable—but only if the pieces fall into place.

At the end of the day, the Mavericks’ fate may rest on factors outside their control. Injuries are unpredictable, chemistry is fragile, and the Western Conference is a gauntlet filled with teams like Denver, Phoenix, and Golden State who are just as hungry and just as talented. But if the Mavericks can find a way to keep their stars on the floor and playing at their highest level, they have as good a shot as anyone to win it all. Stephen A. may be playing into the drama, but his point is undeniable: Dallas is one “if” away from greatness.

For Mavericks fans, the hope is that this time, the stars will align. That this time, Anthony Davis will stay healthy. That Kyrie Irving will remain consistent and locked in. That Luka Dončić, already carrying the weight of a franchise, will finally have the perfect storm of support needed to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Until then, the Mavericks remain a tantalizing mystery—dangerous on paper, but still waiting for the “if” to become reality.