{"id":164274,"date":"2025-10-26T10:30:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T14:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=164274"},"modified":"2025-10-26T09:09:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T13:09:44","slug":"3-underrated-mavericks-2025-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/26\/3-underrated-mavericks-2025-26\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Underrated Mavericks Who Could Change the 2025\u201326 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/DAL\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dallas Mavericks&#8217;<\/a> star players often dominate headlines, the contributions of underrated players can be pivotal in shaping the team&#8217;s success. This season, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chrisma02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Christie<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gaffoda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Daniel Gafford<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/n\/nembhry01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Nembhard <\/a>are positioned to make significant impacts, offering skills and versatility that could quietly redefine Dallas\u2019 trajectory.<\/p>\n<h2>3 Underrated Mavericks Who Could Change the 2025\u201326 Season<\/h2>\n<h3>Max Christie: The 3-and-D Wing Dallas Needs<\/h3>\n<p>Max Christie has consistently shown he can contribute on both ends of the floor. Last season, he averaged 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, demonstrating <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/24\/max-christie-breakout-dallas-mavericks-proves-worth\/\" target=\"_self\">flashes of three-and-D potential<\/a>. This season, Christie has maintained strong production with 9.0 points and 1.5 assists, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 60 percent beyond the arc. His ability to defend multiple positions and knock down perimeter shots gives Dallas tactical flexibility. Christie\u2019s presence creates spacing for <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/irvinky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyrie Irving<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/davisan02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Davis<\/a>, allowing the offense to flow with more rhythm. If he remains consistent, Christie could easily become a key X-factor for the Mavericks.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Max Christie on his focus on conditioning and on-ball play during the offseason:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor me, I just took it very seriously\u2026I wanted, this summer, to kind of take a leap with my on-ball stuff and playmaking and creating\u2026Being in shape is important for anybody, especially me where\u2026 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/at7HnMGNVa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/at7HnMGNVa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Noah Weber (@noahweber00) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/noahweber00\/status\/1975578288673182170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1670\" data-end=\"1732\"><strong data-start=\"1674\" data-end=\"1732\">Daniel Gafford: The Rim Protector Waiting in the Wings<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1734\" data-end=\"2390\">Daniel Gafford has yet to play this season as he continues to recover from a right ankle injury, but his potential impact remains significant. Gafford gives the Mavericks rim protection, rebounding, and finishing abilities that could alter both ends of the floor once he returns. Last season, he was an efficient scorer around the basket and a reliable shot-altering presence in the paint. His return will not only bolster Dallas\u2019 defense but also open space for the team\u2019s stars to operate more freely. Even in his absence, his eventual integration into the lineup could provide the Mavericks with a late-season boost and a stronger playoff ceiling.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II are tied for the 6th highest block rating (91) on NBA 2K26 \ud83e\uddf1<\/p>\n<p>(via <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA2K?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@NBA2K<\/a>) <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jty9Z8RCbe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/jty9Z8RCbe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NationMffl\/status\/1955755325044252952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2397\" data-end=\"2440\"><strong data-start=\"2401\" data-end=\"2440\">Ryan Nembhard: The Playmaking Spark<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2442\" data-end=\"2975\">Ryan Nembhard has quietly <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/13\/ryan-nembhard-2025-nba-draft-profile\/\" target=\"_self\">emerged as a stabilizing presence<\/a> in Dallas\u2019 backcourt. The rookie averages 5.0 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 44.4 percent from the field. His basketball IQ allows him to facilitate offense and manage the pace when Irving or Davis rests. Nembhard\u2019s decision-making, passing vision, and calm demeanor help the second unit maintain structure and create open looks. While his contributions may not always grab headlines, his impact on Dallas\u2019 rotation could be pivotal in tight contests.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ryan Nembhard looking like the guy who led the NCAA in assists last season\u2026 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bMq0EmS48i\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/bMq0EmS48i<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NBA University (@NBA_University) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA_University\/status\/1978033969028292922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3615\" data-end=\"3668\"><strong data-start=\"3619\" data-end=\"3668\">Why These Players Could Define the Mavericks&#8217; Season<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3670\" data-end=\"4233\">The Mavericks\u2019 2025\u201326 season could be defined as much by these underrated contributors as by their stars. Max Christie\u2019s defensive versatility, Daniel Gafford\u2019s interior dominance, and Ryan Nembhard\u2019s playmaking all have the potential to turn tight games into victories. When they hit their stride, Dallas becomes a team that is deeper, more unpredictable, and capable of challenging the league\u2019s elite. These three players may not grab the headlines, but their impact could quietly redefine the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/30\/3-reasons-why-the-dallas-mavericks-won-the-2025-nba-draft\/\" target=\"_self\">Mavericks\u2019 season<\/a> and reshape their Western Conference trajectory.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3670\" data-end=\"4233\">\u00a9 Peter Creveling-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the Dallas Mavericks&#8217; star players often dominate headlines, the contributions of underrated players can be pivotal in shaping the team&#8217;s success. This season, Max Christie, Daniel Gafford, and Ryan Nembhard are positioned to make significant impacts, offering skills and versatility that could quietly redefine Dallas\u2019 trajectory. 3 Underrated Mavericks Who Could Change the 2025\u201326 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5679,"featured_media":164298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,30,62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-164274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-mavericks","category-nba"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5679"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164274"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":164299,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164274\/revisions\/164299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/164298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}