Mavericks big man proves he belongs with dominant showing

With injuries depleting the Dallas Mavericks’ frontcourt — notably to Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II — the team has been forced to seek reinforcements. In response, it turned to a familiar face, signing journeyman center Moses Brown to a 10-day contract on Feb. 20.

Brown, 25, has had a well-traveled NBA career. The 7-foot-2 center previously played for the Mavericks during the 2021-22 season and has also spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers. 

Despite bouncing around the league, Brown has remained a consistent presence in the G League, earning multiple NBA call-ups because of his production and size.

Since re-joining Dallas, the 25-year-old has appeared in three games, with Thursday night’s performance standing out. Given a starting role, he recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks, propelling the Mavericks to a 103-96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. His three steals marked a career-high, while his 9-of-14 shooting highlighted an efficient and impactful outing on both ends of the floor.

Prior to Thursday’s breakout, Brown had logged seven points and seven rebounds in limited minutes during a Feb. 23 loss to the Golden State Warriors. His back-to-back strong performances have shown his value as Dallas navigates frontcourt depth concerns. While his role has primarily been as a stopgap solution, he has made a strong case for an extended look.

Now, the towering big man faces a familiar challenge: finding stability in the NBA. Despite his size and rebounding ability, he has struggled to secure a long-term home. Whether the Mavericks will extend his 10-day contract remains to be seen, but given their current roster situation, keeping him around could be a logical move.

Brown has spent most of this season in the G League with the Westchester Knicks, the New York Knicks’ affiliate. Across 26 games in both the Tip-Off Tournament and regular season, he has averaged 15.9 points, 14.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 60.4% from the field — production that has kept him on the radar for NBA opportunities. 

If he continues to capitalize on his minutes, Brown could finally carve out a more permanent place in the league.