The Dallas Mavericks have faced a significant shift in their offense, with the departure of Luka Doncic and the season-ending injury to Kyrie Irving. As a result, coach Jason Kidd has had to adapt his approach to coaching, recognizing that the team is no longer built around a single star player.
“We’re not built like that right now. We’re built on team,” Kidd said after the team’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. “There’s no No. 1 option. It’s team. Everyone touches it and whoever is open, shoot it.”
The Mavericks’ roster was designed to feature players who could create offense, but without Doncic and Irving, the team has had to rely on others to step up and provide scoring punch. In the team’s recent loss, two-way guard Brandon Williams emerged as a surprise scorer, dropping 31 points with five rebounds and six assists off the bench. He joined Mark Aguirre as the only players in franchise history to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists off the bench.
Kidd praised Williams’ performance, saying, “He’s fighting to get a job and he’s got a great opportunity to get an NBA contract and not be on a two-way. That’s our job is to hopefully put him in a position to do that, here or somewhere else.”
Williams’ breakout game was a carryover from the team’s loss to Milwaukee, where he had 14 points and eight assists off the bench while battling an illness. His big week started with a 34-point performance to lead the Texas Legends over the Long Island Nets.
After the game, Williams discussed his goals for his NBA career, saying, “Whatever coach needs. I know I’m a good scorer, but just getting to the paint. My teammates and coaches trust me to make the right play. That’s my next development right there.”
Williams has played 34 minutes and 33 minutes in each of the last two games, and this is his opportunity to prove that he’s worthy of a standard NBA contract.
Conclusion
The Mavericks’ offense is in transition, and the team is looking to other players to step up and provide scoring punch. With the team’s focus on teamwork and versatility, players like Williams and others will have opportunities to emerge as reliable scoring options. As Kidd said, “It’s gonna be someone different [every game] and that means we can be dangerous because no one can load up on one person, and we gotta take advantage of that.”
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