The Mavs and Spurs are taking different paths to the start of the season

It's finally time for the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, teams with different expectations, when the Lone Star State rivals open their season on Thursday in Dallas.

The Mavericks are in the hunt for a championship, while San Antonio is trying to regain its reputation after a long period of rebuilding.

Dallas achieved a 50-32 record in the 2023-24 season and beat the Spurs in all four meetings en route to the Western Conference title.

Led by guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks are expected to once again contend for the top spot in the West after addressing their 3-point shooting deficit by signing free agent Klay Thompson in the offseason.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd has made light of everything when it comes to the rest of his starting lineup. The midfielder spot will be manned by either Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II, while PJ Washington will likely start at power forward.

The Mavericks' key reserve players include guards Quentin Grimes, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy, forwards Naji Marshall and Maxi Kleber and center Dwight Powell. Guard Dante Exum is expected to miss the first three months of the season due to wrist surgery.

Doncic did not play in the preseason due to a bruised left calf, but was fully involved in the final training sessions and was cleared to play on Thursday.

His absence has kept the Mavericks' “Big Three” of himself, Irving and Thompson from playing together, but Doncic said Tuesday that the expected relationship will come with time.

“There’s not much (for me) to adjust to,” Doncic said. “When Klay is open, he’s going to knock it out. It's Klay Thompson, one of the greatest shooters of all time. His motivation is always high. He is a competitor. He wants to win. Like every other season, he wants to win a championship.”

“It’s going to be fun out there,” Doncic said.

The Spurs posted a 22-60 record last season, finished 14th in the West and missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season despite Victor Wembanyama being named Rookie of the Year.

The celebrated 20-year-old Frenchman amassed 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game in his debut season.

Wembanyama started 71 games last season, led San Antonio in 31 games and led San Antonio in rebounds in 48 games. The 7-foot-4 center's 254 blocked shots were the most in a season since 2015-16 (Hassan Whiteside, 269). .

“The further I progress in my career, the more I realize that it’s important to work on the fundamentals,” Wembanyama said. “This summer I’ve put a lot of emphasis on my game, which is all about taking advantage of really easy situations.”

The Spurs added veteran point guard Chris Paul and forward Harrison Barnes in the offseason. That pair and Wembanyama will be joined in the starting lineup by strikers Julian Champagnie and Jeremy Sochan, while sharpshooter Devin Vassell is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot.

Vassell is expected back sometime in November.

Keldon Johnson will lead the reserve unit, which includes fellow guards Tre Jones, Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and freshman Stephon Castle, as well as forwards Zach Collins and Sandro Mamukelashvili and center Charles Bassey.

San Antonio is led by Gregg Popovich, who begins his 29th year at the helm of the Spurs. His 1,388 career wins are the most in NBA history.

–Field level media