ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is never one to shy away from a hot take, and his latest prediction has Dallas Mavericks fans buzzing.
On a recent episode of First Take, Smith declared that the Mavericks will win the 2026 NBA championship, if Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving are healthy and performing at their peak come playoff time.
“If Anthony Davis, if Kyrie Irving is healthy and [AD] brings his A game, the Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship,” Smith said. “That’s a big if. It’s legit and everybody knows it”.
The Mavericks are entering the 2025–26 season with a retooled roster and sky-high expectations. After trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal, Dallas acquired Anthony Davis and later signed Kyrie Irving. The pairing of Davis and Irving, two of the most talented but injury-prone stars in the league, has created both excitement and skepticism.
Davis, 32, is coming off a season where he averaged 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 51.6% shooting. While his production remains elite, his durability is a concern, he’s played more than 60 games in just two of the last seven seasons.
Irving, meanwhile, is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in March. His timeline for return remains uncertain, and questions linger about how quickly he can regain his rhythm and explosiveness.
Smith’s prediction hinges on a fragile formula: two stars with injury histories, a young supporting cast, and a Western Conference loaded with contenders. Still, the Mavericks have intriguing depth. Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, and rookie phenom Cooper Flagg round out a roster that could be dangerous if everything clicks.
But as Smith emphasized, “That’s a big if.” The Mavericks finished 11th last season and missed the playoffs after falling in the play-in tournament.
Some analysts believe the Mavericks are better positioned for a deep run in 2026–27, once Irving is fully recovered and Flagg has a year of NBA experience. But Smith’s take reflects the urgency, and the potential, of a team built to win now.
