‘Continuously Getting Better’: Anthony Davis Details Dallas Mavericks’ Preseason Progress And Areas For Growth

Grant AfsethOctober 15, 2025October 21, 2025no comment

Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks close in on the start of the regular season, Anthony Davis believes the team is steadily finding its footing. After weeks of lineup experimentation and system adjustments, Davis said he feels the group’s rhythm coming together with each game and practice.

“The vibe is good,” Davis said Tuesday after practice at T-Mobile Arena. “Energy is high. We’re continuously working and getting better each and every day.”

The Mavericks are coming off a 114–101 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday, a performance Davis described as the team’s most complete of the preseason. He scored 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding six rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes.

Head coach Jason Kidd said the game reflected how Davis’ conditioning and comfort are trending in the right direction.

“Yeah, I think when you talk about it, this is probably one of his best games,” Kidd said after the win in Utah. “You can see his conditioning. You can see that he’s starting to ramp up more minutes. If he’s going to play like he did tonight, that puts us in a good seat to win a lot of games.”

Conditioning and Pace

Playing faster has been a core emphasis for Dallas during camp, with the coaching staff encouraging quicker transitions and early shot opportunities. Davis said that style only works if the team maintains elite fitness levels.

“You’ve got to be in great shape,” Davis said. “It’s easy to talk about playing fast, but when you actually have to do it — constantly running, getting into your spots, moving — it takes a well-conditioned team.”

Kidd praised the Mavericks’ ability to maintain tempo on both ends of the court against Utah. The team recorded 32 assists, launched 53 three-pointers, and held the Jazz to 40.2 percent shooting.

“The first group was really good on both sides of the ball,” Kidd said. “The pace was good, and defensively, to have a rating of 99 was really good. That means those guys were playing at a high level.”

Adjusting to Jay Triano’s Offense

Dallas has been installing a new motion-based offensive system designed by assistant coach Jay Triano, centered around spacing, cutting, and multiple playmakers initiating the attack. Davis said the team is still learning how to execute it consistently, but progress has been encouraging.

“Defensively, there are still some things we’ve got to clean up,” Davis said. “We’ve been fouling jump shooters too much — that’s something we don’t want to do. We’re still working through our schemes since they’re new for most guys. Offensively, Jay Triano’s system is new for all of us, so we’re still figuring out the kinks. But we’re moving the ball, sharing it, and I think we can be really good on both ends with the weapons we have.”

Kidd said the early results have shown promise, particularly when Davis has played center. Those lineups have given Dallas flexibility defensively and more spacing on offense.

“AD at the five was a nice look — we hadn’t really looked at that yet,” Kidd said. “It looked promising.”

Leadership and Continued Growth

Beyond his numbers, Davis’ leadership has stood out in guiding a roster with new faces and evolving roles. Kidd said Davis has been setting the tone through his approach and consistency as the Mavericks push through the final stages of preseason.

“You could see he was into the game from the beginning,” Kidd said. “Being able to do it from the inside out, playmake, defensively — it was a really good game, and we’ve got to build on it.”

Davis said he’s focused on making sure the team builds momentum each day, not just from game to game.

“Each day is about coming in, getting better, and not skipping steps as we get ready for opening night,” Davis said. “We’ve got guys learning how to play together, learning where they fit. That’s the biggest thing — staying patient and continuing to build.”

Looking Ahead

The Mavericks will conclude their preseason Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers before beginning the regular season Oct. 22 against the San Antonio Spurs. Kidd said he plans to extend minutes for Davis and other regular rotation players as part of the final tune-up.

“Everybody’s minutes will go up tomorrow,” Kidd said. “Going into this being our last preseason game, we’ll try to get those guys extended minutes.”

For Davis, the goal is simple — keep improving while the team’s chemistry continues to grow.

“I feel good,” Davis said. “Still got some things to clean up, still working on things, but overall, I think myself and the team feel really good about where we are.”

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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