Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki didn’t hold back his thoughts following his former team’s latest loss, a 118-104 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies that dropped them to 2-7 on the season. Speaking on NBA on Prime, Nowitzki lamented the Mavericks’ lack of offensive identity and poor execution, calling their start “disastrous” and ‘tough to watch.’
“This has been a disastrous start. Obviously, there’s a hole at the point guard and playmaking position. We knew that hole wasn’t filled this summer, so there’s a hole at shot creating and a hole at shot making. We said coming into the season that health is big for them.”
“Obviously, Kyrie’s out for a couple more months, but you need AD healthy, Lively healthy. Both of those guys have already been out for a while. Gafford’s missed some games. It’s been just a disastrous start. They’re actually on pace to have a record bad start on offense. They can’t shoot, they can’t make plays. It’s all kind of going side to side, east and west, handoffs. It’s just nobody can make shots. It’s been tough to watch.”
The Mavericks’ struggles are glaring. Their 103.2 offensive rating is the worst in the NBA by a wide margin. They rank 30th in points per game (106.0) and 29th in three-point percentage (30.7%), averaging just 10.1 made threes per game. The offensive flow, once driven by Luka Doncic’s brilliance, now feels lifeless and directionless.
Since trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers nine months ago, Dallas has been in an identity crisis. The front office, led by GM Nico Harrison, bet on depth and defense, acquiring Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and rookie Cooper Flagg to form a new core. But injuries and inconsistency have crippled those plans. Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL, Davis’ lingering calf issues, and Dereck Lively’s knee troubles have left a roster stripped of star power and playmaking.
As a result, the Mavericks’ offense has ground to a halt. D’Angelo Russell, expected to stabilize the backcourt, has been mediocre at best, averaging 12.6 points and 5.6 assists while shooting under 39 percent. Thompson’s decline has been even more alarming, he’s averaging 7.6 points on 31.6% shooting from the field and a dismal 26.4% from three, including a scoreless outing against Memphis.
The team’s lone bright spot has been Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft. The 18-year-old has shown flashes of star potential, averaging 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, but he’s been thrust into a near-impossible situation, serving as the team’s primary ball-handler and offensive hub with minimal veteran support.
Nowitzki, who carried Dallas through its lean years before delivering an NBA title in 2011, expressed sympathy for the fans and for Flagg. To put their decline in perspective, the Mavericks have managed to score more than 110 points only once in their first nine games. Their ball movement often stalls, and their lack of creators leaves them relying on isolation-heavy possessions and desperate late-clock shots.
The contrast with Luka Doncic’s new home in Los Angeles makes things sting even more. Doncic has scored 200 points in his first five games with the Lakers, leading them to a 7-2 record. Meanwhile, the post-Luka Mavericks have sunk to the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Nowitzki’s words echo the frustration of a fanbase watching its identity unravel. Once known for elite spacing, precision, and shot-making, Dallas now ranks among the league’s worst offenses. Injuries, poor roster construction, and a lack of playmaking have all converged to create what Nowitzki calls a ‘record-bad’ offensive stretch.
As the Mavericks prepare for a road matchup against the struggling Wizards, the urgency is clear. If things don’t turn around soon, even Dirk’s optimism might not be enough to keep Dallas fans believing in the rebuild.
