Klay Thompson’s first season with the Dallas Mavericks didn’t quite go according to plan as they missed the playoffs, but he is optimistic about the future. During an appearance on Showtime with Coop, Thompson spoke glowingly of the Mavericks’ frontcourt.
“I think we personally have the best frontcourt in the NBA when we’re healthy,” Thompson said. “We have so much depth in the frontcourt between P.J. [Washington], [Cooper Flagg], [Daniel Gafford], [Dereck Lively II], and [Anthony Davis]. And then getting a guy like [D’Angelo Russell] and having guard depth, I’m just really excited. And I never thought I would be in Dallas, but it’s been a awesome transition.”
You can’t really accuse Thompson of being biased here, as that could well be the best frontcourt in the NBA. The depth is frankly ridiculous, but it’s the presence of Anthony Davis that puts this unit in the conversation. Thompson thinks he is arguably the best player at that power forward position of his generation.
“AD, when he’s healthy, he’s the best power forward, maybe of my generation,” Thompson stated. “I mean, you’ve been able to see him up close with the Lakers. He is a two-way force. I mean, there’s not many big men who can do what he does as far as his handle, his blocking shot ability, his freaking jump shot.”
Davis averaged 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game for the Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers in 2024-25. The 10-time All-Star only played nine games for the Mavericks after arriving via trade from the Lakers, though, and health remains the biggest concern regarding him.
Stephen A. Smith thinks the Mavericks will win the NBA title if Davis and Kyrie Irving are healthy. That’s a bold take, but they will be a very difficult team to beat if these two are firing.
As for the rest of the frontcourt, we’ll start off by looking at the center spot, where the Mavericks have Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
Gafford averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game for the Mavericks in 2024-25. Acquiring him via trade from the Washington Wizards in 2024 has proven to be a great decision, and the big man was rewarded with a three-year, $54 million extension this offseason.
Lively, meanwhile, put up 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in 2024-25. Injuries meant he didn’t quite take the leap that you’d have expected in his sophomore campaign, and here’s hoping that injury bug stays away next season.
Next, we get to the forward spots where Davis is joined by P.J. Washington and Cooper Flagg.
Washington averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in 2024-25. He and the Mavericks are reportedly close to agreeing on a four-year, $90 million deal.
Washington had arrived via trade from the Charlotte Hornets in 2024 and was another excellent acquisition at that trade deadline. Despite how well he has played for the Mavericks, though, he looks set to lose his spot in the starting lineup.
Flagg, the first pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, has been hailed as the most complete prospect to enter the league in years, and he should be in the starting five next season. The 18-year-old averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game for the Mavericks in the summer league.
It will be interesting to see just how much of an impact Flagg can make as a rookie. On the odd chance that he struggles, the Mavericks can turn to Washington, and there aren’t too many teams in the NBA that have so many options in that frontcourt.
