If there’s one thing I learned from covering Dallas Mavericks rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. during his rookie season it’s that he fears absolutely nothing. That includes making his ambitions known for the franchise that drafted him ninth overall in the 2017 NBA draft.
He also possesses a unique humility mixed with the utmost confidence in his own talents and gifts.
“I didn’t come in perfect and I’m not leaving perfect,” he said during his exit interview, “but I made strides throughout the season.”
In regards to who he would prefer the Mavericks draft this summer to pair with him and Harrison Barnes (presumably to form the next Dallas “Big 3”), Smith smiled and declined comment, but added this gem:
“They’ve shown that they know talent.”
Smith has a unique way of mixing in praise for the Mavericks and supreme self-confidence in a way that endears both the fans and the fixtures of the franchise to him. He’s already proven to be a leader on the court (a sentiment echoed by head coach Rick Carlisle as the Mavericks closed their season) and is showing that he values deep ties to the local community by conducting camps with local kids.
.@Dennis1SmithJr having some fun with the kids at our @bgcdallas Fitness Challenge Kick Off! @bgca_clubs 🏀 pic.twitter.com/LagjryiCM5
— Kids Foot Locker (@KidsFootLocker) April 13, 2018
He looks to be everything the Mavericks hoped in terms of a player and as a human being and he wants great things for Dallas in the future. The very near future.
When asked about the playoff aspirations for the Mavericks next season in the loaded Western Conference, Smith is bullish.
“We don’t want to be out at this time next year,” he said. “We want to keep playing and make it to the postseason.”
In case you missed it, Smith wants the Mavericks to be a playoff team for the 2018-19 season. He didn’t specify the 8-seed, the 6-seed or the 3-seed. He wants to taste the playoff atmosphere for himself.
And I don’t blame him. Smith added that he’s never been to the postseason as a player. In his lone season at N.C. State, the Wolfpack went 15-17 overall and 4-14 in ACC play.
“I’ve been in the arena a couple of times with playoff teams and I can only imagine what it’s like to play in that,” he said. “I think we’ll get it next season.”
As fans, the desire for the Mavericks to “tank” for both Smith last year and this year’s potential top-3 draft pick has been an over-arching theme for a fan base that’s struggling to come to grips with Dallas’ post-Dirk Nowitzki future. The past two seasons have seen the Mavericks combine for a 57-107 record after making the playoffs 15 times in 16 years.
If you ask anyone how they’d feel about Dallas being set up as a sacrificial lamb of sorts for current powers Houston and Golden State, you’d likely get a response that consists of something along the lines of “what’s the point?”
The entire debate is for another day. It’s clear what the future face of the franchise wants for his new team and that’s to get to the postseason, seed notwithstanding. It’s painfully clear that Nowitzki wants it and basically any member of the current Mavericks want it as well.
The 2019 draft class doesn’t figure to be anywhere near as loaded as this year’s current crop of prospects, so the desire for Dallas to be bad again this year hasn’t reached the fever pitch it did this year as the Mavericks angled to be in the best position for uber-prospects Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic and Marvin Bagley.
I’ve maintained that keeping Smith happy should be priority No. 1 for the Mavericks going forward. As fans, his success should be their success. Are we ready to accept that if it means a 43-39 season and a first-round matchup with the juggernaut Warriors?
It’s a question the fan base is going to have to ponder as Smith continues to improve and grow along with Barnes and whomever else the Mavericks add to their growing core.
What better time than next year?
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