Mavs Step Back Podcast
The Mavs Step Back Podcast covers anything and everything related to the Dallas Mavericks: game coverage, breaking news, rumors, you name it! Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson are your hosts, and you can follow them on X, formerly known as Twitter: @dalton_trigg and @CoachDrew33. This podcast is also featured on DallasBasketball.com. Thanks for listening, and be sure to SUBSCRIBE on YouTube and everywhere else you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode!
REACTIONS: Mavs Defy The Odds, Secure No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft! Cooper Flagg Dallas Bound?
Despite having just a 1.8% chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery, the Dallas Mavericks ended up doing just that on Monday night. It was the first time the Mavs moved up in the lottery in franchise history, and it was tied for the second-largest jump in NBA Lottery history. Now, with the No. 1 pick in their possession, the question is: Will the Mavs draft 19-year-old Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, or will general manager Nico Harrison try to trade the pick for a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo? On the latest episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, we give our instant...
BONUS POD: Mavs Show Grit, Pride in Sacramento; Keep Season Alive
As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at FedExForum with the Western Conference playoffs’ 8-seed on the line, I (Dalton Trigg) recapped the inspiring performance we witnessed on Wednesday when Dallas kept its season alive by blowing out the Sacramento Kings on the road, 120-106. I’ve been on record saying that, although I’m generally an optimistic person by nature, I didn’t have a good feeling about these Play-In Tournament games for the Mavs. I truly believed the season was going to end on Wednesday. Shout out to them for proving me wrong...
Mavs Face Kings in Play-In Tournament; Could Luka Doncic Play for Dallas Again One Day?
After having a few days to digest what happened, Dalton and Drew recap their feelings while watching Luka Doncic's first return to American Airlines Center since the trade last Wednesday as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks. As the Mavs prepare for a tough Play-In Tournament game against the Sacramento Kings this Wednesday night, the guys are left pondering whether Doncic will ever consider returning to Dallas one day to once again play in front of the fan base that loves him so much.
Luka Doncic's Return to Dallas, Mavs Signing Brandon Williams, & Play-In/Playoffs Hope?
As the Dallas Mavericks fight to lock up their spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament, they'll face Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center for the first time since the massive trade on Wednesday night. In addition to previewing that game, we talk about the Mavs planning to sign two-way guard Brandon Williams to a standard contract later this week and what that could mean for their postseason chances.
State of the Dallas Mavericks: Can Phoenix Suns Catch Up In West Standings?

The Dallas Mavericks are in a weird situation, as they flirt with making the NBA Play-In Tournament as well as falling into the NBA Lottery. Here's our latest thoughts on where the Mavs currently sit with 15 games remaining.
Mavs Embarrassed By Warriors; Luka Doncic's Lakers Up Next
The Dallas Mavericks, who had won five of their last six games heading into Sunday, fell back down to earth in a 126-102 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Things might not get any better anytime soon for the shorthanded Mavs, as their next game is against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Let's talk about the current state of the Mavs and the fan base.
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BLOCK PARTY: Anthony Davis Dominates Rockets in Mavs Debut; Max Christie Shines
One week after the Dallas Mavericks shockingly traded away the face of the franchise, Luka Doncic, MFFL (Mavs Fans For Life) were still hurting. They gathered outside of American Airlines Center before Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets to protest General Manager Nico Harrison’s decision to pull the plug on a 25-year-old generational superstar.
Although it will take time for fans to fully heal from such a loss, newcomers Anthony Davis and Max Christie performing as they did in Dallas’ 116-105 win over the Houston Rockets will certainly help ease the pain for the time being...
HOT TAKE: Dallas Mavericks Better Short-Term After Luka Doncic Trade?
Call it the bargaining stage of grief if you must… but after taking this week to let the news of the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis sink in… We’ve come to the conclusion that the sky isn’t falling after all. That is, at least not for this season.
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UNREAL: Reactions to Mavs Shockingly Trading Luka Doncic to Lakers
On Saturday night, around 11 p.m. central time, ESPN’s Shams Charania sent out a trade report on X that was so utterly shocking that everyone wondered if his phone had been hacked by someone trying to pull a prank. However, it was not a prank, as the Dallas Mavericks unexpectedly… and inexplicably… traded away 25-year-old franchise superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Absolute madness ensued in the sports world following such news.
The full trade:
Lakers receive: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
Mavs receive: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 first-round pick<...
Mavs Get Important Win Over Thunder; Could This Be A Turning Point?
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 106-98 on Friday night to end a three-game losing streak and improve to 23-19 on the season. Kyrie Irving led the way with 25 points, but P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall brought the toughness and mental fortitude that ultimately did OKC in. Could this win be a turning point for the season even though Luka Doncic still hasn't returned from a calf injury? Let's talk about it. Thanks for listening, and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our Mavs Step Back newsletter on Substack to get early access to exclusive content like...
Exclusive Interview with Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison
Before the Dallas Mavericks played the New Orleans Pelicans in the Big Easy on Wednesday night, Mavs Step Back caught up with the team's general manager, Nico Harrison, to talk about all the injuries that have occurred in the first half of this season, whether or not those injuries affect their trade deadline plans, Klay Thompson adapting to his new environment in Big D, and more! Thanks for listening, and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our Mavs Step Back newsletter on Substack to get early access to exclusive content like this in the future! Your support means the world...
GAME RECAP: Breaking Down Mavs' 118-97 Win Over Lakers
On today’s episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, we break down the Dallas Mavericks' 118-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, which snapped a five-game losing streak. We believe this was the Mavs' best win of the season so far. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter if you haven’t already!
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GAME RECAP: Dallas Mavericks Knock Out Phoenix Suns Despite Naji Marshall, PJ Washington Ejections
Despite not having Luka Doncic and Dereck Lively II, plus Naji Marshall and PJ Washington being ejected due to a fight with Jusuf Nurkic, the Dallas Mavericks put on a defensive masterclass in a 98-89 win on the road against the Phoenix Suns. Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson recap the altercation and what led up to it, as well as some of the key performances from Dallas' 20th win of the season. Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe!
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'BAH HUMBUG': Luka Doncic Hurt, Kyrie Irving-Led Comeback Falls Short in Mavs' Christmas Day Loss to T-Wolves
The worst-case Christmas Day scenario for the Dallas Mavericks was realized on Wednesday afternoon, as they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves and superstar Luka Doncic suffered a calf injury that will likely keep him sidelined for a significant period of time. Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson recap the Mavs' near comeback from being down 28 points, led by Kyrie Irving, who finished with a game-high 39 points. Although Doncic's injury was a big blow, the guys discuss how the Mavs' roster was built to withstand this kind of adversity. Dallas is currently 6-2 without Doncic this season, so we'll see if...
GAME RECAP: Luka Doncic, Daniel Gafford Dominante as Mavs Blow Out Blazers, 132-108
Luka Doncic returned from a heel contusion on Monday night and led the Dallas Mavericks with 27 points in a 132-108 win against the Portland Trail Blazers. With the win, the Mavs improved to 19-10 and remained No. 4 in the Western Conference Standings. From Daniel Gafford's domination to Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson's subtle impact, Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson break down every aspect of Dallas' 14th win in 17 games. Tune in!
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Luka-Less Mavs Bounce Back With 113-97 Win Over Clippers; Grimes Fourth-Quarter Takeover!
After losing to the LA Clippers on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks bounced back with a 113-97 win over the Clippers on Saturday despite Luka Doncic being out for a second consecutive game. Kyrie Irving returned from a one-game absence due to a shoulder injury, struggling to shoot the ball (6-25 FG), but Dallas had eight players score in double-figures to help secure the victory. Quentin Grimes led the Mavs with 20 points off the bench, pouring in 14 of those points in the fourth quarter alone. Let's talk about it!
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Top 10 Trades Dallas Mavericks Could Make Before 2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline
On this episode, Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson present 10 trades the Dallas Mavericks could make between now and the NBA Trade Deadline in February. Some of the trades are more tame than others. Some involve bringing back former Mavericks like Derrick Jones Jr. and Dorian Finney-Smith. Others are more risky, like Dallas potentially taking a chance on Zion Williamson. Overall, the Mavs aren't desperate to make any trades at the moment, but front offices are always looking to improve their rosters, so let the spit-balling begin!
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Luka Doncic's 45-Point Triple-Double Fuels Dallas Mavericks' Record-Breaking Win Over Golden State Warriors
Luka Doncic put up a 45-point triple-double in the Dallas Mavericks' wild 143-133 win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, giving him the fourth-most 40-point triple-doubles in NBA history. Klay Thompson lit up his former team by hitting seven 3s, and the Mavs and Warriors broke the NBA record for most made 3s in a single game. Tune in to get a full recap of all the action!
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Thunder Snap Mavs' 7-Game Win Streak; Dallas Betting Favorites for Herb Jones Trade
The Dallas Mavericks lost to the OKC Thunder, 118-104, on Tuesday night, ending their 7-game win streak. SGA outscored Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving by himself, Dallas' bigs were mostly ineffective, and the only real bright spots for the Mavs were the performances of Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and O-Max Prosper. We give a full recap of the game in addition to discussing the Mavs apparently being the betting favorites to land New Orleans Pelicans' Herb Jones in a trade.
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SEVEN IN A ROW: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving Lead Dallas Mavericks to 125-118 Win Over Toronto Raptors
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors 125-118 behind a combined 79 points from Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson on Saturday night. After leading by 24 points, the Mavs let the Raptors make things interesting in the fourth quarter, but they still held on for their seventh consecutive win and 11th win in 12 games. Other topics in this episode include: O-Max Prosper showing why he needs to take Maxi Kleber's spot in head coach Jason Kidd's rotation, PJ Washington having a bad shooting game before playing against his favorite opponent, the OKC Thunder, and the Mavs looking like the...
Mavs Decimate Wizards in 137-101 Blowout Win; Should Dallas Trade for Marvin Bagley II?
The Dallas Mavericks won their 10th game in 11 tries on Thursday night in a 137-101 blowout win over the league-worst Washington Wizards. Kyrie Irving led the way with 25 points, Luka Doncic notched his first triple-double of the season, and six other Mavericks scored in double figures. Also... is it possible Marvin Bagley III was auditioning for a potential trade to Dallas? Let's put on our tinfoil hats and talk about it.
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Mavs Erase 15-Point Fourth-Quarter Deficit in Thrilling Win Over Grizzlies!
Despite being down by 15 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Dallas Mavericks rallied to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies, 121-116. Dallas improved to 14-8 and jumped to No. 3 in the Western Conference standings. Luka Doncic led the way for the Mavs with 37 points, but Spencer Dinwiddie and PJ Washington provided late-game heroics that help put the game away for good. Considering that the Mavs committed a season-high 25 turnovers and missed 14 free throws, this win over the Grizzlies is the most satisfying one of the season so far. Let's talk about it!
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Shorthanded Mavs Hold Off Scorching-Hot Blazers in Luka Doncic's Return From Injury
Despite not having Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and Dereck Lively II, the Dallas Mavericks pulled out a big road win against a red-hot Portland Trail Blazers team on a second night of a back-to-back. Luka Doncic returned to action, finishing with 36 points and 13 assists, but it was PJ Washington, Spencer Dinwiddie and Quentin Grimes that closed out the win for Dallas in the final minute of the game. Dallas has now won eight of its last nine games with a favorable schedule coming up. Let's talk about it!
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MAVS STREAKING: Kyrie Irving Leads Dallas to 106-94 Win vs. Utah Jazz; Luka Doncic Returning Soon?
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz 106-94 Saturday night in Salt Lake City. Dallas improved to 12-8 on the young season, now having won seven of its last eight games. Kyrie Irving led the way in Utah with a game-high 30 points, and he got some great help from Quentin Grimes, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford and Spencer Dinwiddie. Oh... and could Luka Doncic return to action in Portland on Sunday night? Let's talk about it!
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Dallas Mavs Have Pre-Thanksgiving Feast with Blowout Win Over New York Knicks
The Dallas Mavericks took down the New York Knicks on Wednesday night with a 129-114 blowout at American Airlines Center. Dallas was aggressive on the defensive end of the floor from start to finish, and it also got balanced scoring, with all starters scoring in double digits. Kyrie Irving, Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie all scored 20+ points to keep pace with the Knicks' high-powered offense. Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson break down the Mavs feel-good win while missing Luka Doncic, Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford. Oh yeah... and you know the guys had to talk about their...
Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Naji Marshall & Jaden Hardy All Score 20+ in Mavs' Win Over Hawks
Following a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday night, the Dallas Mavericks bounced back in a big way on Monday night with a 129-119 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Despite not having Luka Doncic, Klay Thompson, Quentin Grimes and Dereck Lively (for the second half), Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Naji Marshall and Jaden Hardy all scored 20+ points to lead Dallas to victory. Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson discuss the Mavs' win that pushed them to 10-8 on the season and 3-1 in games without Doncic.
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Naji Marshall, PJ Washington Lead Mavericks to Massive Win Over Nikola Jokic's Nuggets
Despite not having Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks (9-7) upset Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets (8-6) in the Mile High City, 123-120. Naji Marshall scored a career-high 26 points off the bench, PJ Washington helped the Mavs eliminate a five-point deficit with three minutes remaining, and Kyrie Irving, despite shooting just 7-19 from the floor, did a great job managing the game and making sure his teammates were comfortable. Let's get into it!
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Mavs Blow Out Injury-Plagued Pelicans, Win 3rd Consecutive Game!
The Dallas Mavericks took care of business on Tuesday night, defeating an injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans team with a 41-point blowout. Drew Johnson recapped everything that happened in this one, from Luka Doncic returning and looking fresh, to Kyrie Irving's continued high-quality play, and much, much more!
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Mavs Recap: Dallas Takes Down OKC Thunder with No Luka Doncic; PJ Washington Shines
The Dallas Mavericks outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, 121-119, to complete a sweep of a back-to-back. Most impressively, they did so without Luka Doncic playing. PJ Washington and Kyrie Irving were fantastic, and the Mavs got balanced scoring from their bench en route to the big win. Drew Johnson assumes the role of lead host in this episode to break down everything that happened. Thanks for listening!
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Mavs Lose Another Heartbreaker in Klay Thompson's Warriors Reunion
The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, 120-117, in Klay Thompson's return to The Bay after leaving the only team he knew for 13 years this past summer. Thompson was great, scoring 22 points and hitting 6-12 from deep, but Steph Curry and Draymond Green's play propelled the Warriors to a 9-2 record to start the year, while the Mavs dropped to 5-6 with their third consecutive loss. What all went wrong in this one for Dallas? Let's talk about it.
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Kyrie Irving Duels Nikola Jokic as Dallas Mavericks Fall to Denver Nuggets in Mile High Thriller
The shorthanded Dallas Mavericks lost another nail-biter against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, 122-120. Despite Kyrie Irving going for 43 points and Luka Doncic nearly notching a triple-double, Nikola Jokic's squad had the last laugh when the final buzzer sounded. Although Kyrie missed his final two shots in clutch time, was it Luka's sequence at the 1:20 mark that sealed the Mavs' fate? And what's going on with Quentin Grimes and Jason Kidd right now? We discuss all that and more, including Klay Thompson's upcoming reunion with the Golden State Warriors, on today's episode.
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Jason Kidd Delivers NSFW Message After Dallas Mavericks' 114-113 Loss to Phoenix Suns
The shorthanded Dallas Mavericks lost to the Phoenix Suns for the second time in less than 10 games on Friday night at American Airlines Center. Despite holding a six-point lead in clutch time, the Mavs had a series of miscues down the stretch en route to a 114-113 loss. Head coach Jason Kidd had some choice words for his team after this one, specifically regarding bench production. Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson break down the loss that dropped the Mavs to 5-4 on the young NBA season.
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Luka Doncic Leads Balanced Dallas Mavericks Blowout vs. Chicago Bulls
The Dallas Mavericks bounced back into the win column on Wednesday night with a 119-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Luka Doncic led the way for Dallas with 27 points and 13 assists, but the Mavs also got balanced scoring efforts from Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall with Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington missing the game due to injuries. Let's talk about what we saw!
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Dallas Mavericks Defense Hemorrhages in 134-127 Loss to Indiana Pacers
Despite receiving 34 points and 15 assists from Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks' defense gave up a layup line to the Indiana Pacers in a 134-127 loss at American Airlines Center on Monday night. Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson give their observations on Dallas' disappointing performance, including the Mavs' lack of movement on offense, teams taking away lob attempts, continued first-quarter woes, and much, much more.
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Luka Doncic and Dallas Mavericks Bigs Dominate in Blowout Win Over Orlando Magic
The Dallas Mavericks bounced back into the win column with a 108-85 blowout against the Paolo Banchero-less Orlando Magic on Sunday night. Luka Doncic finally broke out of his shooting slump, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II dominated the paint, and Naji Marshall showed off his playmaking ability. Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson give their postgame observations.
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MAVS-ROCKETS RECAP: All Tricks, No Treats for Luka Doncic & Co.?
The Dallas Mavericks started off a five-game homestand by losing to the Houston Rockets on Halloween, 108-102. After falling down by 23 points, the Mavs made a big push to get within three points late in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough. Luka Doncic continued to struggle with his shooting, especially early in the game. How worried should we be about No. 77's performances so far? The guys also discuss Kyrie Irving being the team's MVP so far, as well as P.J. Washington being effective as a small-ball center.
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MAVS-WOLVES RECAP: Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic Lead Dallas Mavericks Win Despite Anthony Edwards' Hot Start
The Dallas Mavericks improved to 3-1 on the young season after a 120-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Despite being on a second night of a back-to-back, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving outlasted Anthony Edwards, who scored 24 of his game-high 37 points in the first quarter alone.
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MAVS-JAZZ RECAP: Dallas Wins Despite Luka Doncic's Shooting Struggles
Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson recap the Dallas Mavericks' 110-102 bounce-back win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Luka Doncic only finished with 15 points on 5-22 shooting, but the rest of his team rose to the occasion to help seal the victory. The guys discuss the play of Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington and... ...Spencer Dinwiddie!
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Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving & Klay Thompson Get Little Help in Dallas Mavericks Loss to Phoenix Suns
Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson break down the Dallas Mavericks' first loss of the 2024-25 NBA season to the Phoenix Suns. Luka Doncic went for 40 points, and the Mavs star trio of Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson combined for 81 points ... but the rest of their teammates only combined for 21 points in the 114-102 loss. Let's talk about it!
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MAVS-SPURS RECAP: Klay Thompson Delivers Dazzling Debut in Dallas' Season-Opening Win
Dalton Trigg and Drew Johnson give an instant recap of the #DallasMavericks' 120-109 win over the #SanAntonioSpurs to start the 2024-25 #NBA season. The guys discuss #LukaDoncic knocking off some rust, #KlayThompson dazzling in his Mavs debut, #DereckLively II's passing reaching new heights, and much, much more!
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