Dallas Mavericks basketball is back, and there is no shortage of questions heading into Wednesday night's season opener against the Houston Rockets. Can Kyrie Irving get back to looking like Kyrie Irving? How quickly will Cooper Flagg take another leap? And can new head coach Dusty May get this group moving in the right direction after last season's mess? Those are the obvious storylines.
But opening night is a chance to see what else Dallas has on its roster and who could potentially emerge as a solidified third option, behind Flagg and Irving. Of course, one game is just one game, but Dallas has talent – young talent. Three players, in particular, are worth keeping an eye on against Houston. One is a former No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft looking for a fresh start, another is a small guard trying to prove he belongs in the rotation, and the third is a rookie big man who could make a living doing the things that don't always show up in the box score. Any guesses? Let's break it down.
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Zaccharie Risacher
There is something fascinating about the Risacher situation. Not that long ago, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Now, just two years later, he's in Dallas trying to figure out how to turn that potential into consistent NBA production. The good news? The Mavericks don't need him to be a superstar. The bad news? They do need him to be more consistent than in Atlanta.
Risacher's time in Atlanta didn't exactly go according to plan, and there's a reason the Mavericks have an opportunity to take a chance on him. He's only 21, and a player with his size at 6'8 and athleticism should be given another shot at becoming something. In his two years in Atlanta, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Those aren't typically numbers you want to see from a number one pick.
Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what a young player needs. Other times, it just reveals the same problems in a different uniform. We'll see which one this is. What makes Dallas an interesting landing spot is that Risacher shouldn't have to force anything. At minimum, he'll be the third wheel behind Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. He won't have to bear the weight of the pressure of being THE guy. My ask of him against the Rockets is just to keep things simple. Knock down open threes. Make cuts and find open space on the floor. Do the little things that get a coach to trust you.
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The Mavericks could use another reliable wing, especially one who can contribute on both ends. If Risacher can become that guy, a revival could be in the works.
Marcus Sasser
The Mavericks need shooting. Period. Although he's a little undersized at 6'1, the 25th pick in the 2023 draft brings skills most other Mavs don't have at the top of their list – ball handling and shooting. Sasser can create his own shot and give the offense a little juice when things get stagnant. Do you remember that offense last year? Things got stagnant. In his career, he's averaged 7.0 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 rebounds per game.
If Sasser can come in on Wednesday and create a few good looks, get into the paint and knock down shots, he'll have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation. Of course, there's a catch. Scoring a few buckets is nice, but it won't matter much if the Rockets hunt him on the opposite end. His minutes became limited in Detroit Sasser due to injury and his size defensively. Luckily, the Mavericks have size at all other positions to make up for him.
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The Mavericks don't need Sasser to be a starting-level point guard or some hidden star waiting to explode. They need a dependable bench guard who can keep the offense afloat, make smart decisions, and occasionally provide a scoring burst when the team needs one. Whether Sasser can deliver consistently is another question. His preseason debut against Atlanta was an encouraging step after he missed Dallas' first three exhibition games with left adductor tightness. Now the real games start. It will be telling to see how Sasser handles pressure and if he's willing to make the simple play instead of forcing a difficult shot. A strong showing could help him make his case for regular minutes. A rough one could remind everyone why undersized guards have such a narrow margin for error.
Morez Johnson Jr.
There's a reason the Mavericks took Johnson Jr. over a guard in the 2026 draft. At 6'9, 250 pounds, he's an athletic juggernaut who plays both sides of the floor. The ninth overall pick is built around doing the uncomfortable stuff. Rebound through traffic. Run the floor. Protect the paint. Finish around the basket. Make opposing big men work for every inch of space. Those things aren't always going to make the highlight reel, but they can absolutely help a team win games. At Michigan, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Again, not eye-popping numbers, but it's impact that matters.
The Mavericks have enough players who will want the ball in their hands. Johnson doesn't need to compete with them for touches. He can make himself valuable by dominating the areas where effort and toughness matter most, which is a pretty good way for a rookie to get on the floor. There was an encouraging glimpse of that during the preseason, when Johnson grabbed seven rebounds in just 14 minutes against Atlanta. That's the kind of activity that gets your attention. It doesn't mean he's ready to play 25 minutes a night, but it shows how he can contribute even when the offense isn't running through him
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The challenge is doing it against NBA competition. The Rockets are a massive team. The jump from big men in college to the NBA is substantial. Johnson will also have to avoid the rookie mistakes that can frustrate coaches, particularly unnecessary fouls and defensive breakdowns. But if he can bring energy, crash the glass, and make life difficult for opposing centers, he'll put himself in the conversation for a regular role sooner than some might expect.
There is something refreshing about a young player whose path to contributing is so straightforward. Oh and by the way, did I mention his new coach is also his former coach in Dusty May? That's good too.
Bottom line
The Mavericks have bigger questions to answer than whether Risacher, Sasser, or Johnson can have a good opening night. Irving's health and Flagg's development will ultimately tell us much more about where this team is headed. But the supporting cast matters, too.
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Risacher is the swing-for-the-fences play: a former No. 1 pick who could become a valuable two-way wing if things finally click. Sasser is the intriguing bench option who needs to prove he can make enough plays to stay on the floor. Johnson is the rookie who could carve out a role by doing the dirty work and making life miserable for opposing big men. None of these guys needs to have a career night against Houston. It would be nice to see some confidence from Risacher, creativity from Sasser, and "dirty" stats from Johnson Jr. If Dallas is going to surprise anyone this season, it will take more than its two biggest names. Wednesday night is the first chance for others to step up.
How to watch
The Mavericks and the Rockets tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. The game will be televised locally on both WFAA Channel 8 and KFAA Channel 29 locally, as well as on sister stations throughout the Mavericks' regional viewership area. The game can be streamed on MavsTV or NBA League Pass where available.
