Nick Angstadt here, the host of the daily Locked On Mavericks podcast, with your daily Locked On Mavericks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Mavericks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Kyrie Irving’s Challenge Without Luka Doncic for the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd talks with guard Kyrie Irving (11) | Jerome Miron/Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Mavericks face a significant challenge with Luka Doncic sidelined due to injury. As the team navigates this stretch without their superstar, all eyes turn to Kyrie Irving to step up and lead the charge.
Irving’s performance in recent games has been a mixed bag. Against the Houston Rockets, he struggled, scoring only 16 points on 13 shots with two assists in 37 minutes of play. The Mavericks need Irving to elevate his game during Doncic’s absence. This isn’t just about scoring more points; it’s about embracing a leadership role and empowering his teammates. Irving has already demonstrated his ability to positively impact team culture, and now he must leverage that influence to keep the Mavericks competitive.
One area where Irving can make a significant difference is in the pace of play. When he first joined the Mavericks, he brought a quicker, more fluid style of basketball. Returning to this approach could help compensate for Doncic’s absence and create more opportunities for the entire team.
While Irving’s assist numbers have dipped this season, it’s partly due to his penchant for making the extra pass, often resulting in “hockey assists.” This unselfish play has fostered a positive team culture, but now Irving may need to find a balance between facilitating and taking over games when necessary.
The Mavericks’ upcoming schedule is daunting, with multiple back-to-backs and tough opponents on the horizon. Irving’s ability to lead the team through this challenging period will be crucial in maintaining the Mavericks’ position in the competitive Western Conference.
For more insights and a deeper dive into Kyrie Irving’s role during Luka Doncic’s absence, tune into the Locked On Mavericks podcast for this and much more.
Jan 2, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) warms-up before the game against the Indiana Pacers at Kaseya Center. | Jim Rassol/Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
After weeks of downplay by his agent and denials by Heat president Pat Riley, Jimmy Butler has finally said the quiet part out loud to a room of postgame media about his future in Miami.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon — but I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that,” Butler said.
In a quick follow up, Butler was asked whether he thought he could get his joy back with the Heat.
“Probably not,” he said without any hesitation.
As a Butler in Miami believer, my surprise stems from the state of the team. That the front office has let the Heat’s roster slowly erode to the strange place of competitive limbo they find themselves in. Losing key role players, like Max Strus and Caleb Martin, plus offensive gap fillers like Gabe Vincent, has left the Heat without much depth. The undeniable talent of Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro — who is having one of his best seasons, despite it all — and sophomore Jamie Jaquez Jr. is there, and for years Duncan Robinson has worked to be whatever the team needs him to be, but the scrappy longevity and the plucky punches this team was capable of pulling two and three seasons ago are gone.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Honor Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards calls Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the “MVP of the NBA.”(ESPN)
Injury Pistons Jaden Ivey undergoes surgery to repair his broken fibula, and his earliest timeline for return is four weeks. (SportsNet)
Watch Charles Barkley calls out JJ Redick over NBA ratings comments, “dead man walking.” (Awful Announcing)
Preview The Cavaliers face the Mavericks on January 3. Key matchups include Kyrie Irving against Donovan Mitchell. Expect a thrilling game as both teams aim to secure a crucial win. (Mavs Moneyball)
Fans The first fan voting returns for the 2025 All-Star Game are in, with Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić among the top contenders. Fan support remains strong for the Mavericks’ stars. (Mavs Moneyball)
Fans Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, and Jayson Tatum lead the first voting results for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, with strong showings from Mavericks players as well. Fan engagement is at an all-time high. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Butler’s Trade Request Shakes Up Miami Heat & Fantasy Basketball
Jan 2, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) looks on from the bench during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol/Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
I’ve been hearing whispers about potential issues between Butler and the Heat organization for months now. Sources close to the situation indicated that the Heat were hesitant to offer Butler a contract extension, which reportedly left him feeling undervalued and frustrated.
Butler’s recent press conference comments, where he stated he may never regain his joy for playing basketball while with the Heat, seem to confirm these tensions. His on-court performance has also noticeably dipped, with Butler appearing disengaged and putting up subpar numbers.
From a fantasy perspective, Butler’s potential departure raises questions about who might step up in his absence. However, looking at games where Butler has been out this season, no clear beneficiary has emerged. Players like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson have failed to consistently produce starter-level fantasy numbers in Butler’s absence.
Click the button below to get the inside scoop on a rookie center’s breakout game.
The Dallas Mavericks suffered a controversial loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in a game marred by a missed goaltending call. How did the Mavs respond without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and what impact did the officiating have on the NBA game’s outcome?
The Dallas Mavericks are searching for their next elite defender to complement Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Can the Mavs find a hidden gem like they did with Derrick Jones Jr. last season to bolster their NBA championship aspirations?
The Dallas Mavericks suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Nuggets despite building a 19-point lead. How did the Mavs, playing without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, manage to compete against a healthy Nuggets squad featuring Nikola Jokic?
