Christian Clark
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Mavericks reporter @TheAthletic. Texan. Likes kettlebells and barbecue.
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Articles by Christian Clark
Dumont family purchases Miriam Adelson’s shares of the Dallas Mavericks
Patrick Dumont and his wife, Sivan, now control more than two-thirds of the equity in the Dallas Mavericks after purchasing Miriam Adelson’s shares of the team in October, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the details of the matter. The Dumonts now own 69 percent of the Mavericks, making them the team’s controlling owners.
Kings’ Darius Acuff Jr. has ‘something to smile about’ after earning first NBA win
DALLAS — With the first win of his NBA career in reach, Darius Acuff Jr. dribbled the ball between his legs four times, then let go of a 27-footer from straightaway over reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and swished it. The shot, which pushed the Sacramento Kings ahead of the Dallas Mavericks by 15 points with 3:41 to play, was the dagger blow in Monday’s game, which Sacramento won 115-100. “It feels great, man,” said Acuff, who scored 25 points and handed out six assists.
Kyrie Irving, once an NBA Cup skeptic, has become a believer
DALLAS — When the NBA launched the In-Season Tournament in 2023, Kyrie Irving was unsure about the concept. “I wasn’t that excited about it,” Irving admitted Friday. Three years later, Irving said he has gotten more comfortable with the idea of the NBA handing out a trophy prior to Christmas and sees value in gunning to win the NBA Cup. “I think I understand the concept of it now and what it means for the fandom of basketball,” Irving said. “And just getting your legs up underneath you.
Cooper Flagg sees big benefits from the Mavericks’ culture shift
DALLAS — About a year ago, Cooper Flagg experienced something unfamiliar: the sting of losing. Early in Flagg’s rookie season, the Dallas Mavericks dropped a game at home to the New Orleans Pelicans, which dropped them to 2-6. A frustrated Flagg said that night, “For me, it’s the most I’ve lost since, I think, ever.” Flagg wasn’t lying. In his final year of high school, Flagg’s Montverde (Fla.) Academy team went a perfect 33-0.
Mavericks pick up option on Zaccharie Risacher’s contract months after trading for him
The Dallas Mavericks have committed to paying Zaccharie Risacher his $17.4 million salary in 2027-28, exercising the team option on the contract of the top pick in the 2024 draft, the team announced Wednesday. Risacher spent his first two NBA seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, and the Mavericks acquired him via trade in July. The 21-year-old is the only top-five pick from the 2024 draft class no longer on the team he entered the league with.
Jay Huff had no chance. In the second quarter of Friday’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers, Huff found himself in a foot race with Mavericks forward Zaccharie Risacher. Huff, the Pacers’ only player in position to stop the Mavericks from capitalizing on a turnover, turned and ran toward his own basket, but by the time he crossed half court, he was too late.
Mark Cuban says Mavericks sale taught him ‘hard lessons’
Mark Cuban said he learned some “hard lessons” from how things played out after he decided to sell his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson and Dumont families in 2023. In an appearance on the “Build or Break” podcast released Tuesday, Cuban told host Daniel Lubetzky: “I’m a really trusting partner. If I shake your hand, I mean it.
Dusty May explains Mavericks’ decision to rest Kyrie Irving in team’s home opener
DALLAS — Less than two hours before the Dallas Mavericks’ home opener, coach Dusty May delivered some bad news: Kyrie Irving wasn’t going to play. Irving was officially ruled out with what the Mavericks called left knee injury management.
Cooper Flagg forced out of Pacers game after suffering hard foul on fast break
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was forced out of Friday’s game in Indianapolis with a left shoulder injury after Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith fouled him on a fast-break opportunity. Flagg, whose team was ahead by 33 points, came up with a steal and had an open lane to the basket when he wound up for a dunk. Nesmith ran up behind him and administered a hard foul across Flagg’s arm. Flagg crashed to the floor and immediately began clutching his left shoulder.
Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving says Cooper Flagg hype is real: ‘No gas, all facts’
HOUSTON — If the age gap between the Dallas Mavericks’ two best players were a person, it would almost be old enough to drive a car. Officially, Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg were born 14 years, eight months and 28 days apart. For the purpose of this story, let’s round up and say that 15 years separate Irving — the Dallas Mavericks’ oldest player — from Flagg — the team’s youngest player.
The Knicks have finally hung a banner commemorating their 2025 NBA Cup win
The New York Knicks decided to hang a banner celebrating their 2025 NBA Cup win after all. On Tuesday, reporters who began filtering into Madison Square Garden hours before the Knicks’ regular-season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers spotted a blue banner hanging in the rafters. It read, “2025 NBA Cup Champions.” “I think it’s a recognition of what our journey was like last year,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said on Tuesday afternoon. “There were obviously a lot of ups and downs.
Want to watch the Knicks hoist a banner? It’ll cost you a record amount
It will cost four figures to even get a nosebleed seat inside Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. The average ticket price for Tuesday’s game between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers is $1,894, according to the ticket reseller TickPick, making it the highest-ever average price for a regular-season NBA game. The fans who decide to pay a premium to get into Madison Square Garden will get a chance to witness history.
Dereck Lively II, Mavs don’t reach rookie-scale contract extension before deadline: Source
Dereck Lively II, whose promising NBA career has been derailed by right foot and ankle injuries, did not reach a contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks ahead of Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline for rookie-scale extensions, a league source granted anonymity to discuss contract deliberations told The Athletic. As a result, Lively, the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, will enter restricted free agency in the summer of 2027 if he receives a qualifying offer from the team before June 29.
Kyrie Irving hints at retiring before early 40s. ‘Not the same NBA I fell in love with as a kid’
DALLAS — Unlike his former co-star LeBron James, Kyrie Irving can’t see himself playing in the NBA well into his 40s. Irving, who turns 35 years old in March and is about to begin his 16th NBA season, said Monday that while he still loves playing basketball, he doesn’t feel the same way about the “hoopla that goes into (it).” “Basketball is an eternal flame,” the Dallas Mavericks guard said Monday.
The new-look Dallas Mavericks must answer a familiar question
DALLAS — So much about the Dallas Mavericks is new. In the last six months, the Mavericks have hired a new lead basketball executive — Masai Ujiri — who, in one of his first big decisions, decided the franchise needed a new coach. Dallas poached Dusty May from Michigan, and of the seven assistants who are on May’s staff, not one of them is a holdover. Dallas’ supporting cast around its two stars — Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving — is also filled with new faces.
The ‘most important person’ in bringing NBA games back to China? Patrick Dumont
MACAU — Five years ago, Patrick Dumont came to the NBA with a pitch. Dumont, then Las Vegas Sands Corp. chief operating officer, wanted the league to resume preseason games in China, whose relationship with the NBA was strained in October 2019 after former Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey publicly expressed support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
How Kyrie Irving and Anta ‘needed’ each other and found a ‘partnership’ that worked
In January 2023, Sean O’Shea, a creative director with Chinese sportswear company Anta, was discussing ways to grow the brand’s business with newly hired CEO Samuel Tsui. Anta already had four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson on its roster of athletes and wanted to add another high-profile player. O’Shea and Tsui had a name in mind. Kyrie Irving, a 2016 champion and nine-time All-Star guard, had recently gone through a highly publicized breakup with Nike, making him a sneaker free agent.
Kyrie Irving makes long-awaited return in Mavericks’ preseason game in China
MACAU — For the first time in more than 19 months, the Dallas Mavericks have Kyrie Irving in the lineup. Irving, who suffered a torn left ACL in March 2025, started Sunday’s preseason game in China. Irving will be on an unspecified minutes limit. “He’s going to listen to his body,” May said.
Cooper Flagg filling star role on and off court in Macau: ‘He moves different’
MACAU — As Cooper Flagg was preparing to play a basketball game in the Far East for the first time in his life, the Dallas Mavericks forward gripped a microphone near midcourt and welcomed the roughly 14,000 fans packed inside The Venetian Arena. “Ni hao,” Flagg told them, which is how the Chinese say hello.
The Bounce: Checking in on NBA’s China games. Plus, previewing Lakers and Celtics
The Bounce Newsletter | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox. Monday is a holiday, so just letting you know that we won’t have an edition of The Bounce that day. We’ll be back to business on Tuesday. In the meantime, have you filled out our Hope-O-Meter survey? What’s that? You haven’t. You can do that right here by letting us know your team, your level of hope and a fun comment why.
Patrick Dumont is being patient with Mavs. How does he feel about Cuban, Flagg and more?
MACAU — It’s been almost three years since the Dallas Mavericks changed controlling owners. On Dec. 27, 2023, the NBA’s Board of Governors approved Mark Cuban’s sale of the team to Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont, members of the families that run the Sands Corporation. During the ownership transition, Cuban said his vision was to partner with Sands and build a new basketball arena that merged with a casino and resort. At one time, Dumont had the same idea.
Kyrie Irving says calf strain delayed return to Mavericks: ‘I had to take my time to heal’
MACAU — Kyrie Irving said Thursday that he experienced a “setback” last winter while trying to return to the court, which contributed to the Dallas Mavericks guard missing the entire 2025-26 season. Irving said he suffered a grade 2 calf strain in December that physically limited him during the rehabilitation process for eight weeks. The Mavericks didn’t disclose Irving’s ailment during his time off the court. “It pushed my timeline back even more,” Irving said.
What’s going on with Cooper Flagg’s height? We still don’t know
DALLAS — Cooper Flagg has had another growth spurt — or so he says. On Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks forward was asked about the claim he made last week that he has gotten taller and now stands 6-foot-10 without shoes. “I think I’ve actually grown another quarter of an inch since then,” Flagg said.
Can Dwight Powell, the Mavericks’ longest-tenured player, earn a roster spot?
On Friday, minutes before the start of Dallas Mavericks media day, the team announced an addition to its training camp roster. The Mavericks said they were signing Dwight Powell, a 35-year-old center who, in his almost 12 seasons in Dallas, has climbed to fifth in franchise history in games played (763) and sixth in rebounds (3,251).
Kyrie Irving wants to help Cooper Flagg in Dallas Mavericks’ ‘rebuild’
DALLAS — Kyrie Irving acknowledged Saturday that the Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of a “restructuring” and “rebuild” around Cooper Flagg. He added that he is looking forward to sharing the court with his teenage co-star this season.
Flagg’s height, Kyrie’s return, Lively’s health and more from Mavericks media day
DALLAS — Cooper Flagg confirmed the offseason chatter that he’s gotten taller. On Friday at Dallas Mavericks media day, Flagg said he measured 6-foot-10 without shoes at a physical he underwent this week, meaning that the 19-year-old star forward has shot up an inch since his rookie season. “I was like 6-foot-9 last year,” Flagg said. “Definitely taller.” Actually, Flagg was 6-7 3/4 without shoes, according to measurements taken at the NBA Draft Combine in May 2025.
Michael Finley transitions to new role with Mavericks as part of staff changes
Michael Finley helped facilitate the Anthony Davis trade in February as part of his responsibilities as the Dallas Mavericks’ co-interim general manager. Now, Finley is transitioning into a new role with the Mavericks as senior director of player, community and alumni engagement. In that role, Finley “will provide support to the front office and focus on strengthening relationships among Mavericks players, alumni and the North Texas community,” the franchise announced Thursday.
Dirk Nowitzki says he’s in new Mavericks president Masai Ujiri’s corner
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki said Saturday that he goes “way back” with Masai Ujiri and hopes to see the Dallas Mavericks’ new president lead the franchise back to championship contention. “We are in his corner,” said Nowitzki during his annual tennis event to raise money for his foundation. “We all want the Mavericks to go back to where they were. Just a few years ago, we were a Finals team. There is a lot of work to be done.
Kyrie Irving offers to pay Azeez Al-Shaair’s fine for eye-black message supporting slain Palestinian girl
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving said on social media that he’ll pay the fine the NFL gave to Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, after Al-Shaair wore the name of a Palestinian girl who was killed in the war in Gaza on his eye black during a game Sunday. Hind Rajab, the Palestinian girl Al-Shaair paid tribute to, was killed along with six members of her family in January 2024.
Paul George understands Celtics fans’ anger over Jaylen Brown trade
Paul George said Tuesday that he understands any shock or anger Boston Celtics fans might have over the organization’s decision to trade Jaylen Brown. In July, the Celtics sent Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, to the rival Philadelphia 76ers for a package that included George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
Which NBA uniforms should make a comeback? One pick for every team
In today’s NBA, fashion isn’t just a niche topic. For many, it’s become an essential part of following the league and learning more about players’ individual personalities. But that love of fashion doesn’t stop at what guys wear in the back tunnels when they arrive for games. Some of the most iconic uniforms in NBA history stand out in the minds of fans as much as the players who once wore them. Those flashy purple and gold Lakers uniforms. Those tradition-laden green Celtics jerseys. And many more.
Trump calls Luka Dončić trade one of the worst in sports history, suggests Mavericks ‘redo’ deal Original
President Donald Trump on Wednesday weighed in on the Dallas Mavericks’ infamous Luka Dončić trade, which happened over a year and a half ago.
Bidder for Seattle expansion team partners with Tulalip Tribes on arena plan
A second bidder on a potential expansion NBA franchise in Seattle is developing a plan to build a new arena on land near Marysville, a Washington town located 35 miles north of the Emerald City. Nick Rathod, chief global strategy and communications officer for BlackSun, confirmed to The Athletic on Friday that BlackSun and the Tulalip Tribes are “100 percent partnering” to build a new arena and entertainment district, if the NBA chooses to move forward with their bid.
Was Clippers punishment from NBA too harsh, too soft or just right? Writers weigh in
The team lost five first-round picks, Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension and his team received a record $30 million fine. The Clippers’ lead basketball and business executives were also suspended. The immediate aftermath, though, opened the door to some bigger questions. The Clippers vowed to fight, claiming they were being unfairly punished. Are their alleged actions that common, and if they are, will other teams stand down?
Mavericks fan survey: Can Cooper Flagg be an All-Star this season?
Dallas Mavericks fans loved the Masai Ujiri hire, while few are supportive of the team’s plan to leave American Airlines Center five years from now. These were two of the notable takeaways from our fan survey. More than 800 MFFLs (Mavs Fan For Life) chimed in on the summer of change we’ve witnessed in Dallas. Let’s get to the responses. Question 1: The Mavericks went 26-56 last season. How many regular-season games will they win this season?
Klay Thompson dealt with Mavericks’ chaos gracefully. Now, his time in Dallas is over Original
In April, once the Dallas Mavericks’ 26-56 regular season mercifully came to an end, Klay Thompson was asked a question he considered a “hard-hitter.” Are you anticipating being here next season? “I’m not sure. I’m under contract, so I do,” Thompson said. Then Thompson paused and let out a laugh.
Klay Thompson, Mavericks reach buyout agreement; veteran expected to join Heat: Source
Klay Thompson came to the Dallas Mavericks to compete for a fifth NBA championship, but in two seasons with the team, the future Hall of Famer never appeared in a playoff game. The 36-year-old Thompson played just 21 games alongside Luka Dončić and 45 games next to Kyrie Irving. Now, Thompson’s time in Dallas is over, as the Mavericks announced on Friday that they’ve reached a buyout agreement with Thompson.
Mavericks have a new president, new coach and refreshed roster. How do fans feel? Vote
This summer, the Dallas Mavericks revamped their front office, coaching staff and roster around star forward Cooper Flagg. Masai Ujiri took over as president in early May and hired Dusty May as the team’s coach seven weeks later. On draft night, the Mavericks added Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. and Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea.
Mavericks fans frustrated over what they say is season-ticket ‘bait and switch’
A segment of Dallas Mavericks fans is expressing frustration over a change to the team’s partial season-ticket plan for the 2026-27 season. In two different 10-game plans the Mavericks are offering for the upcoming season, one regular-season game has been replaced with a preseason game. The Mavericks’ Oct. 14 preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans is included in the “Three Point” 10-game plan the team is offering, while the Oct.
Mavericks, Stars resolve dispute, plan to stay in downtown Dallas through 2031
The Dallas Mavericks are no longer engaged in a legal battle with their co-tenant at American Airlines Center, the Dallas Stars. On Monday, the Mavericks and Stars released a joint statement saying they had put their issues behind them. “The Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars have reached an agreement that resolves the outstanding matters between the two organizations,” the statement read.
Gregg Popovich, NBA legends remember Don Nelson, whose heart was ‘bigger than the moon’
DALLAS — In 1994, Gregg Popovich had a job offer he was mulling over. The San Antonio Spurs wanted him to return to the franchise to become the team’s general manager. Popovich had previously worked for the organization as an assistant on Larry Brown’s staff from 1988 to 1992. Brown and his staff were fired, but just two years later, the Spurs were offering Popovich the chance to return and run their front office.
Mavericks 2026-27 schedule takeaways: Kyrie Irving’s return, tough opening stretch
Kyrie Irving could make his long-awaited return to the court as soon as Oct. 21 when the Dallas Mavericks open the regular season on the road against the Houston Rockets. Irving last played on March 3, 2025, a game in which he suffered a torn left ACL. Irving missed all of last year recovering from the injury, a slog of a season for the Mavericks, who went 26-56. If Irving can go on Oct.
Mark Cuban withdraws lawsuit against Mavericks’ Dumont over arena plans Original
The legal flare-up between Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban and team governor Patrick Dumont is over — at least for now. Cuban’s lawyers withdrew the Rule 202 Petition earlier this week, which they filed in court in July. In that petition, they sought sworn testimony from a corporate representative from Arena Development Intermediate, a company the Mavericks formed in Delaware, as the franchise continues its push to develop a new basketball arena in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Dončić pay tribute to Don Nelson: ‘You believed in me’
When Dirk Nowitzki was introduced for the first time as a Dallas Maverick in June 1998, it was far from obvious he would develop into an all-time great NBA player. Nowitzki, then a 20-year-old from Würzburg, Germany, sounded nervous as he addressed the media in English, his second language. He had a part down the middle of his hair and wore a hoop earring in his left ear. He admitted then that he still hadn’t made up his mind about coming to the NBA immediately.
The Mavericks have 16 standard contracts. What’s their next move?
Since the Dallas Mavericks hired Masai Ujiri as president and alternate governor in early May, he has wasted little time giving the organization a makeover. In his first major move, Ujiri fired coach Jason Kidd and hired Dusty May away from the college ranks as Kidd’s replacement. On the same day the Mavericks made May’s hiring official, they used the No. 9 pick in the NBA Draft to take Morez Johnson Jr., who starred on May’s title team at Michigan.
Mavericks sign Naji Marshall to 3-year, $52.5 million contract extension: Source
The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Naji Marshall to a three-year, $52.5 million contract extension on Sunday, according to a league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the contract. Marshall averaged a career-high 15.2 points with 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists with the Mavericks last season. He arrived in Dallas during the summer of 2024 and has averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in two seasons.
Mavericks sign Naji Marshall to 3-year, $52.5 million contract extension: Source
The Dallas Mavericks are making sure Naji Marshall isn't going anywhere. Marshall, the slashing forward nicknamed "The Knife," has agreed to a three-year, $52.5 million contract extension with the Mavericks that could keep him in Dallas through the 2029-30 season, according to a league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the contract.
How can Zaccharie Risacher turn his career around? When does a top pick become a bust?
On Sunday, Zaccharie Risacher became the NBA’s first No. 1 pick since 2017 to not make it to his third year with the team that drafted him. The Hawks traded Risacher, the top pick in 2024, to Dallas in a three-team deal that also sent Lu Dort to Atlanta. Markelle Fultz was the last former top pick not to make it to Year 3 with his initial team, and there were extenuating circumstances, to say the least, in that case.
How can Zaccharie Risacher turn his career around? When does a top pick become a bust?
On Sunday, Zaccharie Risacher became the NBA's first No. 1 pick since 2017 to not make it to his third year with the team that drafted him. The Hawks traded Risacher, the top pick in 2024, to Dallas in a three-team deal that also sent Lu Dort to Atlanta. Markelle Fultz was the last former top pick not to make it to Year 3 with his initial team, and there were extenuating circumstances, to say the least, in that case.
Sergio De Larrea boarded a flight to the United States for the first time in his life in late June. The week before, the Dallas Mavericks traded up in the first round of the NBA Draft to acquire his rights. A native of Valladolid, Spain, De Larrea had previously rebuffed opportunities to come to the U.S. and play in college. But after spending five years with the Spanish club Valencia Basket, De Larrea felt that the time was right to make the trek across the Atlantic Ocean.
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