Preview of the Mavs-Spurs: season opener with numerous stars

The Mavericks begin their No. 45 season on Thursday when San Antonio visits American Airlines Center.

Rarely in franchise history has there been more excitement or higher expectations.

This is what happens when your trip to the NBA Finals is still fresh from last season in the rearview mirror and you find yourself on the cusp of unpacking one of the best shooters in basketball history and adding him to the continued partnership of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving , who form the best backcourt tandem in the league.

“Everyone is feeling great and excited for this marathon,” coach Jason Kidd said Wednesday. “We are well positioned. We’re healthy, we’re deep and now we have to become a team.”

The part about health is particularly important. It wasn't long ago – just a week – when the Mavericks weren't sure what healthy bodies they had.

“Being 95 percent healthy to start the marathon is positive compared to where we were a few weeks ago,” Kidd said. “It seemed like everyone was out.”

The Mavericks will begin this journey without Dante Exum. He underwent surgery on his right wrist during training camp and is out indefinitely.

They will face a San Antonio team that is full of optimism, although not at the brimming level that the Mavericks possess. The Spurs missed the playoffs last season, but in second-year center Victor Wembanyama, they feel like they have a player who could be on the short list of the NBA's best players in the coming years – if not sooner .

The Spurs have also brought in experienced leaders to guide the 7-4 Wembanyama through the deep, dangerous waters of the NBA. Former Maverick Harrison Barnes and longtime point guard Chris Paul were acquired in the offseason to give coach Gregg Popovich more hands to teach the 20-year-old Wembanyama, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

“Victor is one of the young, talented players in this league,” Kidd said. “We know what he can do defensively and offensively. And when you add two veterans like Chris and Harrison, those two will be able to help him through the marathon, the ups and downs, and put him in a position to be successful.”

The Mavericks, meanwhile, have made it clear that anything short of a return to the NBA Finals this season will not be good enough.

But they know all too well that things happen in a long season that simply cannot be predicted. Injuries happen. There are break-ins. Sizzling grooves happen when a coach wants to ride a hot player a little more than he normally would.

But in a perfect world, here's a look at what the Mavericks' rotation might look like at the start of the regular season.

Starters: Guards Dončić and Irving, forwards Thompson and PJ Washington, center Dereck Lively II.

This group (and yes, Daniel Gafford could also serve as the starting center) is considered one of the most talented starting five in the league. But coach Jason Kidd hopes he doesn't have to put too much strain on them.

Dončić averaged 37.5 minutes last season and Irving averaged 35 minutes. Kidd would like to shave a minute or two off her workload this season. Sounds good in theory, but when you're trying to win as many regular season games as possible to ensure the playoffs go as smoothly as possible, it's not easy.

Washington ranked third in the usage department last season as he averaged 32 minutes in the 29 games he played after the trade that brought him from Charlotte. He might be able to repeat that, but the Mavericks have better depth this season and keeping him closer to 30 minutes per game would be optimal.

The X Factor is Thompson. At 34 years old and with two serious leg injuries since 2020, it's unlikely he'll surpass the 29.7 minutes he averaged last season with Golden State. The goal is to have him (and everyone else) as healthy and fresh as possible when the playoffs roll around, ages from now.

Lively and Gafford still expect to split time in the middle, with Kidd leaning on whoever has the hot hand.

Key reserves: Gafford (or Lively), forwards Naji Marshall and Maxi Kleber, guards Quentin Grimes, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy.

All of them have either been starters or played important roles in teams in the past.

Every player knows that a normal NBA rotation includes no more than 10, maybe even nine players.

So a little patience will be required from everyone.

“This is about sacrifice and selflessness,” Kidd said.

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San Antonio Spurs (0-0) at Mavericks (0-0)

• Details: 6:30 p.m., American Airlines Center, Dallas.
• TV: TNT.
• Radio: 97.1 FM KEGL, Zona MX 99.1 FM (Spanish).

X: @ESefko