From Stars to System: How the Mavs Are Rebuilding Their Culture

For the first time since 2018, the Dallas Mavs will start the regular season without Luka Dončić at the center of everything. Gone are his step-back three-pointers, high-usage rate, and star power. As it stands, the team is looking to prove that balance and buy-in can build a contender just as much as superstardom. The Mavs are attempting to build a collective of great players instead.

The 2025 regular season marks a cultural reset in Dallas. The organization has made many offseason moves in recent years and had a successful draft. With veteran center Anthony Davis being acquired in the Luka trade, sharpshooter Klay Thompson traded to the Mavs in 2024, and the first overall selection of Cooper Flagg this year, the Mavs look great on paper. These roster shifts represent a philosophical gamble. They want to prove that teamwork and depth can carry a franchise that for years revolved around one player.

This year, head coach Jason Kidd has emphasized ball movement, playing on both sides of the floor, and spacing as nonnegotiables to redefine their success. Winning is supposed to be coming from five players in sync rather than one. It will be key to find a rotation built to last with Dallas’ depth. In this system, both veterans and their young core will need to carry their weight.

Anthony Davis’ arrival in Dallas gave the franchise short-term credibility at least. His injuries remain a question mark around his longevity; however, his defensive ability and veteran presence give Dallas a backbone for what they want to achieve. Davis’ experience will be crucial in the absence of 14-year veteran Kyrie Irving, who is expected to miss most of the regular season. Dereck Lively II’s success in his first two years is at the heart of the Mavs’ culture. His growth as a rim protector and rebounder is turning the Mavs’ defense into a force to be reckoned with. Lively has embraced more of a vocal, leadership role on the team as well. He will continue to grow in this role and continue to help set the tone.

Then there’s more to Dallas’ young core with Cooper Flagg, who is already generating a lot of hype. His novitiate nature and skillset fit him perfectly into the new culture. For fans, Flagg offers hope of a future star to rally around. It is important for Flagg to be developed in the system, not above it.

Dallas does still have star power, just not to the same degree as with Luka. Their system approach is unusual in a league with teams often defined by stars. Many franchises spend years searching and shopping for their next franchise player. The Mavs are deliberately shying away from that dependency. 

When Dončić left Dallas, the team lost more than a player. A large part of the organization’s identity was in him. The offense used to live and die by Luka’s production and late-game heroics. On top of his flair, teammates and fans raved about his personality and kindness. Replacing that kind of player is nearly impossible.

For the Mavericks, this season is not about the wins and losses columns; it’s about proving a point. If they can sustain success in this system, Dallas may have found a new blueprint for building in their post-superstar era. It’s a culture reset as much as a basketball strategy. Whether it leads to contention or rebuilding remains to be seen, but it’s clear it’s no longer Luka’s team. It’s Dallas’ team.