Dallas Mavericks Schedule Releases with 8 Must-Watch Games

We are set for a new era of Dallas Mavericks basketball as the official 2025-26 schedule releases Thursday.

Following two of the most memorable seasons in franchise history - for polar-opposite reasons - Mavs fans enter a new season not sure what to think.

Superstar Luka Doncic was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers just months after leading Dallas to the NBA Finals, but then this offseason, the Mavericks miraculously win the NBA Draft lottery for the first time ever and draft generational prospect Cooper Flagg.

Joining a squad led by Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, Flagg is poised to fit in extremely nice with a roster with strong depth and dynamic versatility on both ends of the floor.

Flagg, despite being the storyline of the new season and the potential savior from a future of misery, doesn't necessarily guarantee that the Mavs can turn things around immediately and return to championship contention. Irving may miss half the year as he recovers from ACL surgery and the highly-touted rookie may need to accept a ball-handling role as the Mavs so loaded in the frontcourt with Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.

All in all, the Mavericks have 23 nationally-televised games this season - tenth most in the league.

Which ones to watch?

Here is a starter pack of games with noteworthy storylines to keep an eye on.

Season Opener: Oct. 22 vs. San Antonio Spurs

For just the second time in NBA history, the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the most recent NBA Draft start their professional careers against one another in their first game. The Rookie of the Year race kicks off with a Cooper Flagg vs. Dylan Harper showdown on Opening Night on ESPN.

Champs in Town: Oct. 22 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

For the first time in franchise history, the Mavs begin a season with five consecutive home games. The fourth comes against the new reigning champions led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

South of the Rio Grande: Nov. 11 at Detroit Pistons

Dallas faces DFW native Cade Cunningham and the Pistons in Mexico City at Arena CDMX. The game will be streamed on Peacock.

Back to Cali: Nov. 28 at Los Angeles Lakers

Anthony Davis returns to Crypto.com Arena for the first time since The Trade. This will also be Dallas' fourth and final NBA Cup group play game, following games against the Memphis Grizzlies, LA Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans. The game will be broadcasted on Amazon Prime, where we can expect Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki to be on the call in his first season as an analyst.

Holiday Hoops: Dec. 25 at Golden State Warriors

Klay Thompson returns to the Bay for a showcase matchup against Stephen Curry and the Dubs on Christmas Day. Even without Doncic, the Mavs' band of high-profile stars are enough to draw one of the five coveted ESPN holiday broadcasts.

He's Back: Jan. 24 vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Luka dropped 45 points in his first return to American Airlines Center as a Laker. This next homecoming will be without an emotional tribute video during pregame. Is there more magic in his encore?

New Rivalry: Feb. 5 vs. San Antonio Spurs

A matchup with Victor Wembanyama sets up what could be the next great rivalry in the NBA between two of the most hailed prospects since LeBron in '03. This starts a home-and-away series with the division-rival Spurs. The back half on Feb. 7 begins a six-game road trip for the Mavs - the longest such stretch of the season.

Old Rivalry?: Mar. 6 at Boston Celtics

It's a rematch of the 2023-24 NBA Finals series and Dallas' only time playing on the parquet this year. Celtics star Jayson Tatum will be out after Achilles surgery, but Bostonian's arch enemy Kyrie should be healthy to face the "boos" against his former team.