Inside Dallas Mavericks Training Camp: ‘Championship Habits’ Built in Vancouver

The Dallas Mavericks arrived in Vancouver with a clear purpose — to build something lasting. The decision to hold camp north of the border wasn’t a coincidence. Jason Kidd wanted distance, quiet, and focus. The team bunked in the hills above Burnaby, where mist rolled over Simon Fraser University’s campus and the only sound most mornings came from basketballs echoing through the gym.

The trip was as much about chemistry as competition. Kidd and his retooled staff sought to establish a foundation before the long season ahead — connection, communication, and what the head coach kept calling “championship habits.”

“Day one, yeah. I thought it was great,” Kidd said. “The energy was high, the talk was high. It was a positive day. For the length of time that we were out there, there were a lot of positive things.”

The Mavericks opened camp with an urgency that mirrored their goal of resetting the tone after a tumultuous 39-43 season in 2024-25.

Kidd wanted the first sessions to be about accountability and voice as much as schemes.

“We’ve talked about having fun. We talked about championship habits,” Kidd said. “And I think just the relationship building, being able to talk, having player-to-player conversations. When players are talking to each other, they’re figuring it out. I thought it was a lot of that today, which as coaches we would invite throughout training camp and the season.”

The staff divided the roster into three practice groups, turning nearly every drill into a competition.

“All three teams were trying to win in the drills,” Kidd said. “We’re pushing each other to be the best, to make the game hard. The guys executed at a high level, especially for a first day with a lot of teaching.”

Between scrimmages, music was low, communication constant. The gym had the sound of a team finding its collective rhythm — whistles, chatter, sneakers squeaking over concrete floors polished smooth from decades of college tournaments. Players yelled out defensive coverages, assistants corrected footwork, and by the end of the first day, Kidd was already smiling more than he had at any point last season.

A New Dallas Mavericks Staff, Familiar Direction

The new rhythm started on the sidelines. Kidd’s bench looked different this year, anchored by veterans of every coaching archetype — championship tactician, system builder, player whisperer.

Training camp marked the debut of assistant coaches Frank Vogel, Jay Triano, and Popeye Jones in their collaborative roles. Kidd said the combination of experience and approachability changed the energy immediately.

“There’s a lot of new, especially with the staff,” Kidd said. “I thought Frank and Jay did an incredible job, but I thought Popeye and the rest of the coaches did a really good job today with their energy, their talk, and their teaching.”

Vogel’s defensive precision and Triano’s fluid offensive structure gave practice a balanced identity — teaching heavy in the mornings, scrimmage-driven in the afternoons. Kidd noted that sessions carried “a different rhythm” from past camps: less lecture, more dialogue.

Every drill ended with quick huddles where coaches demanded feedback rather than dictating it. Players responded by talking more, correcting each other before the whistles came.

Dallas Mavericks Veterans Lead the Way

By the second morning, leadership had become contagious. The tone of camp, Kidd said, wasn’t just being set from the bench but from within the huddles. Among the first voices to rise above the noise was D’Angelo Russell.

“He fits in. Day one, he was great,” Kidd said. “Being new, sometimes you can be hesitant to talk, but I thought his voice with his new teammates was at a high level, and we need that. He’s a vet. His skill set is extremely high, but I thought his voice was really good today.”

Russell’s composure and constant chatter steadied a roster still learning its rotations. With Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Cooper Flagg cycling through front-court pairings, the team toggled between single-big and twin-tower alignments.

“You can see a lot of teams are going with two bigs,” Kidd said. “The last couple championship teams have gone with two bigs. So, there’s a balance — shooting threes, taking layups, getting free throws. For us, it’s going to be a balance of having two bigs, having one big. It doesn’t have to be AD. It could be Gaff, it could be D-Live, it could be Coop. We’re very fortunate to have a lot of different options.”

While rotations shifted, one constant was Dennis Smith Jr. The former Maverick returned with the same bounce that once made him a fan favorite, and Kidd immediately noticed the difference his energy brought to scrimmages.

“Dennis was great,” Kidd said. “He was another guy that stood out in day one. His energy — we all know his abilities, super athletic — but I thought he was really good with the white team today.”

Between sessions, Smith spent extra time with player-development staff, attacking rim-finish drills and defensive slides with the same burst he displayed as a rookie. The staff’s message was simple: if he defended and pushed tempo, he could swing games off the bench.

Klay Thompson’s Return and Perspective

When Klay Thompson took the court in his navy practice gear, there was a moment of quiet recognition — a five-time All-Star in a new uniform, surrounded by a mix of veterans and wide-eyed prospects. He smiled often, loose in posture but sharp in execution, draining corner threes while chatting with Davis between drills.

Afterward, Thompson said the setting rekindled the competitive joy that first defined his career.

“I had a long, refreshing offseason, so I channeled that energy into the first practice,” Thompson said. “It felt great to see our team nearly complete and competing. It was so much fun.”

He described Day 1 as both test and statement — a way to prove that culture starts with consistency.

“Learn about the team. Get a feel, compete, and set the foundation for what’s to come,” Thompson said. “We’re trying to set a standard for the culture here — that we’re going to push through adversity, play when we’re tired, and be relentless in chasing our goals.”

Thompson’s first impression of rookie Cooper Flagg was immediate.

“Cooper did great,” Thompson said. “I’m most impressed he didn’t sit out one drill. I don’t care how many shots he misses or mistakes he makes. The fact that he’s in there and competing every single drill — that’s what impresses me.”

He also believes this Mavericks roster has the personnel to become an elite defensive group anchored by Davis.

“Absolutely, especially defensively,” Thompson said. “It’s going to feel great to know you’ve got the luxury of the best shot blockers in the league behind you. That gives you confidence to press into the offensive player, to gamble in passing lanes. There’s no reason we can’t be the highest-rated defensive team in the NBA.”

Cooper Flagg’s Debut and Anthony Davis’ Defensive Standard

If Day 1 belonged to the veterans, Day 2 belonged to Cooper Flagg.

The gym buzzed a little louder when the 18-year-old No. 1 overall pick stepped onto the court for his first live five-on-five as a professional. Coaches watched closely, teammates tested him early, and the rookie’s poise quickly became a talking point.

Flagg had spent the summer in Dallas adjusting to the NBA’s physicality, but there’s a difference between workouts and a Jason Kidd training camp. The Mavericks’ staff wanted to see how he handled pressure, noise, and fatigue.

“It was good,” Flagg said. “We’ve done a good job ramping up and being in the gym, so it’s good to get out here. A lot longer of a day, but it’s fun bumping and getting in with the guys.”

Even in short scrimmages, Flagg’s instincts stood out — rotating early, jumping passing lanes, and absorbing advice in real time. His words afterward carried the same grounded tone that’s defined him since high school.

“I’m ready. I’m excited. I’m just trying to take it one step at a time, enjoy every process, every step of the way,” Flagg said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m really excited.”

Flagg’s defensive engagement drew particular praise from teammates. The Mavericks’ roster, loaded with size, has made protection and switching its identity, and Flagg understood that from the start.

“Utilizing our size,” Flagg said. “We’ve got a lot of tall, lengthy position players. Using that to our advantage, covering a lot of ground with our length — that’s going to help us.”

He said success will depend as much on communication as athleticism.

“Communication and dedication to playing hard,” Flagg said. “Having five guys on the court communicating and bought in to get stops every possession.”

That approach was visible every time he opened his mouth on defense. Assistants yelled encouragement from the baseline; Kidd smiled when the rookie corrected a teammate’s rotation.

“It’s incredible,” Flagg said. “I can learn so much just from being on the court, watching them play, feeling the spacing and different things they do. It’s been incredible.”

The rhythm of camp — two and a half hours in the morning, optional work in the afternoon — tested everyone’s legs.

“I thought it was great,” Flagg said. “We were competing from the jump — shell drills, defensive drills. Guys were locked in and competing at a high level.”

The learning curve wasn’t limited to play calls. The Mavericks use different terminology from what Flagg knew at Duke, and he’s still adjusting.

“It’s different, but it’s all the same thing at the end of the day,” Flagg said. “You just have to get accustomed to saying different things. Sometimes I mess up and say the old terminology from Duke, but saying something is better than saying nothing. Communication is always good.”

He made clear his goal is not to dominate early, but to fit, contribute, and learn from veterans who have already reached where he hopes to go.

“Just playing my game while fitting in,” Flagg said. “Putting my stamp on the game, impacting it in the ways I know I can, and not fading into the background.”

Between practices, Flagg spent time soaking in the scenery.

“I’ve never been to Canada at all,” he said. “It’s really beautiful. Cool to be up here and in a new place.”

That blend of focus and perspective — a teenager talking about rotations one minute and mountain views the next — captured why the Mavericks believe his maturity will translate quickly.

Anthony Davis is Focused on Setting the Defensive Bar

Every camp has a voice that defines its tone. In Vancouver, that voice belonged to Anthony Davis.

From the opening warm-up, he spoke constantly — directing switches, calling coverages, correcting spacing. He wasn’t shouting for attention but setting an expectation. Kidd said the communication standard Davis brought elevated the entire session.

“The talk was extremely good, above average, especially for the second day,” Kidd said. “Normally at the night practice, it might be a little quiet, but I thought the guys did a great job communicating. They’re telling on themselves, which is good. We’ve got more size, but it’s more than that to get it done.”

Davis, now fully healthy and unburdened by last year’s injuries, looked comfortable reclaiming the role of vocal leader.

“We’re a very athletic team. We’ve got a bunch of tall guys,” Davis said. “If we’re able to play defense with intensity, no one should be able to score in our paint. Even our guards are big. We’ve got a lot of size. If we’re able to play with our hands out, get deflections, be active, talk, we’ll be a great team defensively.”

Kidd began the week with a blunt reminder that rebounding and effort were non-negotiable. Davis took that message personally.

“I didn’t know this until they told us yesterday, first day of camp, that we were 30th in rebounding,” Davis said. “So there’s been a lot of focus on not watching the ball as it goes to the rim, but turning and finding a body and boxing out, and then going to locate the ball.”

The leadership extended to mentoring Flagg. During one defensive drill, Davis pulled the rookie aside after a missed rotation — not to scold, but to empower.

“He looks comfortable,” Davis said. “He can block shots and he can jump, he can rebound. He can defend one through five. I had some conversations with him. I didn’t have vets like he does — like with myself, Klay, Caleb, Kyrie — where you can go to them and talk. I told him today in practice, we were doing a drill and he was hesitant about kicking the guy out, and I said, you’re very great defensively where you have the ability to grab him and throw him and tell him to get to his position. And we’ve got to be able to do that, not just because he’s a rookie, but because we want to win.”

The defensive duo — one a generational veteran, the other a generational prospect — has already formed a connection built on trust and competition. Davis sees the potential for Flagg to take tough assignments right away.

“He has the talent to do so,” Davis said. “He can cover a lot of ground — force guys get beat — he can cover up for us. He has a lot of talent on both ends of the floor, but defensively, he’s going to show it. We’re going to put him in situations where you have to guard maybe the best wing — have to guard Durant or Jimmy Butler or these guys. And we have enough confidence in him to go out and send him out there and be able to guard those guys. But he’s also got help on the back line with the other four guys on the floor.”

Davis’ tone was equal parts teacher and competitor — holding teammates accountable while modeling effort on every rep. That example, Kidd said later, may be the most valuable outcome from the entire week.

Anthony Davis is Getting Into Form After Eye Surgery

When Davis took the court wearing protective goggles, the visual immediately drew questions. After an offseason eye procedure, the All-Star big man had begun training with the eyewear months earlier. The look was new; the comfort, surprisingly natural.

“I was working out with them all summer, so I’m starting to get used to them a little bit,” Davis said when asked about getting used to playing with eye protection. “Making shots, so they feel pretty good. They don’t fog up. They’re tight behind the ear so they don’t fall off. I guess the adjustment is having something on my face — I’m used to being able to do whatever I want, see. But the adjustment’s been pretty easy.”

He laughed when asked how many pairs he expected to go through during the season.

“I’m probably going to break several pairs this year for sure,” Davis said. “But I have a lot of backups.”

Physically, Davis looked powerful. He entered camp roughly 15 pounds heavier, intentional weight meant to preserve his strength through an 82-game season.

“I feel good,” Davis said. “I almost go into every season like this because I put on so much weight in the summer, and then by the time November comes I’m usually around 255, 258. I never want to come in at my playing weight because then I lose weight during the season and I’m too small.”

Through three days, the plan worked exactly as expected.

“I try to go heavier because I lose about 10 to 12 pounds very quickly during camp,” Davis said. “I’ve already lost five pounds with all the running and playing. I’m never concerned about that. I feel great. I’m moving great. I feel good.”

Between the goggles, the voice, and the command, Davis looked like both leader and stabilizer — the standard every Maverick around him was trying to reach.

Jay Triano’s Blueprint — Spacing, Flow, and Freedom

By the third day of camp, the defense had found its rhythm — now it was time to see if the offense could match it. Jason Kidd handed the ball and the whiteboard to Jay Triano, the veteran assistant who joined Dallas after helping Sacramento design one of the NBA’s most efficient movement systems.

Triano’s arrival brought a new tempo. Every half-court set was fast, layered, and interconnected. Players weren’t just told where to stand — they were told why spacing mattered. The goal was to make Dallas less predictable, harder to load against, and more dynamic when defenses collapsed.

“When you look at the spacing here, we are a different team,” Kidd said. “So just creating space, being in the right spots, and then understanding what those spots mean. And just don’t hold onto the ball — attack. We play a little bit faster than we have in the past.”

Much of Triano’s early work centered on Anthony Davis. With his vision, touch, and passing, Davis became the offense’s hub — a role mirroring Domantas Sabonis in Sacramento’s system.

The Mavericks ran series of high-post handoffs, cutters weaving behind Davis as he read help defenders and delivered skip passes. It wasn’t about isolation. It was about connection.

“Ball movement. Getting to our spots and creating lanes for our guys,” Davis said. “We have a lot of guys who love basketball and can playmake. So the emphasis has been getting to our spots on the floor, opening up lanes for everyone, and then attacking the basket. You’re going to have gaps; we’re going to have lanes. Everyone on the floor has a mindset of attack. And then if the defense collapses, we should be able to blind pass to the spots we’re going to be at.”

He said Triano’s vision feels natural — not like a new playbook, but like an extension of how he’s always played.

“That’s kind of been my style of play for longer,” Davis said. “Nothing different. If anything, with Jay Triano coming over and kind of how they used Sabonis as the hub, kind of the same thing. And guys just playing off of that.”

The early results impressed Kidd. The system, he said, was flexible enough to feature Davis anywhere on the floor — top of the key, block, or even as a spot-up shooter.

“He doesn’t always have to be down low — he can be outside on the perimeter, but he can be in all five spots,” Kidd said. “I love the way Coach Jay has taught the offense. The positions are interchangeable. Everything’s read-and-react. In the first week, guys have picked it up and it’s been great.”

That versatility, Kidd added, will prevent defenses from collapsing in the paint.

“His ability to shoot and then play-make,” Kidd said. “In the DHO’s, he can play on the perimeter in the pick-and-roll, mid-range to three-point line — he can shoot it. Also, playing off the dribble, he can drive it. The more we put him in those situations where teams just can’t load up on him in the post, I think that’ll help our offense.”

The scrimmages began to move faster — quick touches, extra passes, transition pushes. The Mavericks wanted pace to become habit, not an afterthought. Triano often yelled “run it again!” before the ball even hit the floor.

Dereck Lively II’s Growth and Spacing Question

In that offensive transformation, Dereck Lively II became a key experiment. Dallas spent much of last season with him often confined to the dunker’s spot; now, Triano and Kidd are expanding his range — both literally and conceptually.

“This is the growth about his — we all know he’s mature,” Kidd said. “We’re going to let him shoot. We want him to fight. We want him to be the champion of the paint. We want his leadership. I know this is his third year, so we’re asking a lot for a young player, but we believe he can handle it.”

Lively said the new offense feels freeing.

“It’s great seeing a bunch of different lineups, seeing how we can play together, seeing different people’s tempos, what they like to do,” Lively said. “We’re just learning each other, and that’s what training camp is for. We’re out here having fun and competing. It’s been great.”

He said spacing doesn’t just mean three-point shooting — it’s movement, cutting, and trust.

“We’ve got a lot of movement,” Lively said. “We’re moving the floor, we’re always agile. We’re not just sitting there watching someone back down. There’s a lot of rolling, swinging the ball, getting to the next man. We know if we keep moving the rock, we’ll get each other open without even realizing it.”

Still, the biggest question lingering around Lively this season is whether he’ll finally stretch his range beyond the paint. In addition to working on post hooks and counters, he’s been getting plenty of reps on threes and mid-range touch, and Kidd’s comments made it clear that freedom is coming.

If Lively can force defenders to respect his jumper, Dallas could work closer to a five-out alignment with Davis facilitating from the high post — a wrinkle the Mavericks haven’t consistently had in the Luka Dončić era. However, shooting consistency for both Lively and Davis will be essential.

That development, Lively said, starts with conditioning and rhythm.

“Great, man. I feel strong,” Lively said. “I just have to make sure my wind stays where it needs to be so I can talk where I need to and still run the floor. I’m making sure I’m in the best shape possible so I can help my teammates win.”

He laughed when asked if his continued growth included literal height.

“I just feel like I wasn’t 7’2” last year — I was 7’1”,” Lively said. “So I grew one inch. I feel like I’m definitely closer to 7’3” now.”

Throughout camp, the Mavericks tied their defensive work to transition offense. Kidd said the goal was to make pace a natural byproduct of stops, not something forced through tempo drills.

“We want pace to be part of our DNA,” Kidd said. “We’ve got athletes. We’ve got size. Now it’s about getting stops and running off them.”

The Return of P.J. Washington and the Big Group Experiment

By the final day in Vancouver, Dallas’ lineups began to take shape. P.J. Washington, who had missed Day 2 with a minor head injury, returned just in time for the most spirited scrimmage of camp. Kidd and Triano experimented with what they called “the big group” — Ryan, Cooper Flagg, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Davis, and Washington.

“Yeah, he was great,” Kidd said. “It was good just having him back. We had the big group out there with Ryan running the point with Cooper, D-Lo, AD, and PJ. They beat up on the white team today.”

The combination gave Dallas absurd length and switchability while keeping the floor spaced with shooters. Coaches noted how naturally the lineup flowed — Russell orchestrating from the top, Flagg cutting baseline, and Davis initiating at the elbows.

That experiment, more than anything, symbolized what the Mavericks are building: a roster that can morph from bruising to fluid in one substitution.

As practice ended, Kidd clapped his hands and reminded the group what the week was all about — habits, not hype. He didn’t need to say more. The identity was starting to take shape.

Dallas Mavericks Standouts, Injuries, and Takeaways

The final morning in Vancouver carried a different energy. The noise in the gym was sharper, the dialogue faster. Players had learned each other’s rhythms, the staff had found its cadence, and the Mavericks looked like a team that had compressed months of chemistry work into three days.

The drills weren’t new — the tone was. Every rotation was loud, every loose ball contested. Kidd stood at half court, smiling between instructions, and clapped each time a unit finished a possession with communication instead of chaos.

“This group talks a little bit more, and that’s good,” Kidd said. “I don’t have to pull it out of them. The communication was good, guys are in, and the competition — everybody’s pushing each other. It’s good to see.”

The trip was never meant to decide rotations or roles. It was about identity — who would talk, who would lead, and who would respond when practices dragged into their third hour.

Naji Marshall’s Impact

Few players embodied that message better than Naji Marshall. He arrived ready to prove that last season’s breakout wasn’t a fluke, and his consistency across all three days made him one of Kidd’s biggest takeaways.

“He was consistent all week on both sides of the ball,” Kidd said. “A lot of good things for Naji. I thought he was one of the guys that stood out this week.”

Marshall’s approach was simple: do everything, do it hard, and do it daily.

“Do whatever I can to help the team win,” Marshall said. “Stay locked in the whole season. Try to play all 82 games.”

He said Triano’s system — with its movement and spacing — fits his instincts perfectly.

“He spreads the floor and allows us to play our game,” Marshall said. “That helps me tremendously. We’ve got a lot of weapons, so playing with them is going to be amazing for me. I’m ready.”

The week reinforced what he already believed about the roster.

“Beautiful,” Marshall said. “I think when we all put it together, it’s going to be a beautiful sight to see. I can’t wait.”

Marshall’s 2024-25 performance — 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game — validated his growth, but he said it’s only motivation.

“Just a testimony to the work,” Marshall said. “Motivation to work even harder this summer so I can top that and be better than that.”

He said his favorite part of camp was watching Cooper Flagg’s growth day to day.

“He’s amazing,” Marshall said. “I’ve been working out with him all summer, so I’ve seen it. The first day he was trying to figure it out, but the last two days he just played his game and looked pretty comfortable to me.”

Marshall smiled when asked about the team’s defensive potential.

“We’ve got so much length,” Marshall said. “We can guard the perimeter, we can guard inside. It’s just amazing to talk about and even better to see it come to light. I’m itching for the season to start.”

He credited Kidd’s staff for meshing immediately with the roster.

“It’s amazing,” Marshall said. “I feel like the staff matches the roster we have. It’s a great coaching staff. They’ve been great all training camp and all summer.”

When pressed on what Dallas’ ceiling could be, he didn’t hesitate.

“No ceiling,” Marshall said. “The sky’s the limit. If we stay locked in, we can accomplish everything we want.”

D’Angelo Russell’s Voice

Another standout was D’Angelo Russell, whose voice and leadership helped define the pace of camp. Kidd praised his combination of control and aggression.

“His voice,” Kidd said. “He’s a vet. He’s been in this league. His shooting — he’s shooting the lights out, shooting the ball at a high rate. His playmaking has been superb. That’s what we need from him: to find the open guy, play with some pace, shoot it when it’s open, and make plays for others. On defense, he’s competing, so he’s kind of told on himself.”

Russell said the atmosphere made it easy to buy in.

“It’s good,” Russell said. “Camaraderie’s high. Think the energy’s high. A lot of guys are excited. Everybody’s excited. So you see that with our group.”

He said his main focus is adaptation — finding his lane on a deep team.

“To be on a team that has every ounce of a chance to win it all,” Russell said. “You’ve got to do your part and figure out what your part is as soon as possible. So for me, I’m just motivated — trying to figure out my role and figure out how I can help each individual guy. I know we’re going to put some funky lineups out there — just figuring out how we can manage it.”

His mindset, he said, is simple.

“No anticipation,” Russell said. “Just trying to be a basketball player — impacts winning.”

Russell noted that Dallas’ size aligns with where the league is heading.

“I just know that’s what the league’s kind of transitioning into,” Russell said. “A lot of teams are going big. We’ve got a good group of bigs right here. Why not start here? And for guys like myself, just find a way to complement those guys.”

He added that reconnecting with Klay Thompson at this stage of their careers offers a chance to build something unique.

“Just try to keep him motivated and unlock him,” Russell said. “Klay’s a guy that — he’s open when he’s open. If you can reward that, it makes our team that much more dangerous. I didn’t get to really play with him in Golden State, but I was excited about that time. So now it’s trying to make up for it, and I’m overly excited.”

Asked if he thinks about external narratives, Russell shook his head.

“Who cares?” Russell said. “I don’t. I’m here now. Like I told you, I want to impact winning. That takes more than just myself. So just try to be a piece to make that happen.”

Injuries and Absences

Not every player made it through the week unscathed, but Kidd’s tone was calm — the injuries were manageable, the participation strong.

Kyrie Irving remained out as he rehabs from ACL surgery but continued skill work on the side under the supervision of assistant coach Phil Handy, focusing on balance and lower-body rhythm. Daniel Gafford suffered a right ankle sprain on Day 1 and is expected to miss two to three weeks. Brandon Williams strained his hamstring and sat for the remainder of camp. Danté Exum did not participate, and P.J. Washington missed Day 2 after bumping his head but returned to full contact on Friday.

“We have some guys who did not practice today,” Kidd said. “Gafford sprained his ankle yesterday, so he’s out for two to three weeks. B Will has a hamstring strain, so he’s out for a week. Danté has not practiced. Kyrie’s out. And PJ bumped his head yesterday, but he’ll be ready to go on Friday.”

The absences gave younger players extended reps, helping coaches evaluate second-unit combinations. Kidd said the competition never dipped.

Defensive Unity and Leadership Growth

If the first day of camp was about structure, the last was about belief. No one embodied that shift more than Dereck Lively II, who left Vancouver talking like a player ready to lead.

“We can compete one through 15,” Lively said. “It doesn’t matter — everyone’s going to check up and bring a lot of competitiveness. No matter if you’re the biggest guy in the gym or the smallest guy, there’s a whole lot of heart.”

He said the roster’s length and communication are starting to merge into a defensive identity.

“We can be a great defensive team,” Lively said. “All this length, and everyone’s got the best interest in one another — covering each other’s backs, always being in the right rotations. We’re learning each other’s cadences. If one of us fails, we all fail. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.”

Lively said helping Flagg transition smoothly is a responsibility he takes personally.

“He’s fun,” Lively said. “He’s out here asking questions, trying to understand the game. He’s the No. 1 pick, so everyone’s going to challenge him, go at him, try to pick on him. I’m just trying to show him: you’re not alone. We’re a team. No matter if they pick on you, we’re all going to pick on them. We’ve got his back — good game, bad game, we’ll always be there for him.”

That accountability — veterans mentoring rookies, players self-policing effort — was the foundation Kidd wanted from the start.

Final Reflections from Vancouver

By the time the final whistle blew Friday afternoon, Vancouver had served its purpose. Players filed out of Simon Fraser’s gym drenched, but connected.

“Great,” Kidd said. “The energy, the communication, everything was at a high. The competition was at a high and it was fun. This was a fun week.”

He said the extended single sessions, stretching past two and a half hours, were worth every minute.

“I thought going once a day for two and a half hours, the guys were attentive,” Kidd said. “They executed. We did a lot more playing than we have in the past, so it was good. I thought camp this week was really good. We’ll be off tomorrow and then get back to it on Sunday.”

The themes were clear: talk more, defend harder, move the ball, and compete for everything.

Training camps rarely define a season, but this one built an outline of what the Mavericks want to be — longer, louder, smarter, and more connected.

Kidd summed it up best before boarding the team bus.

“We laid a foundation,” Kidd said. “Now it’s time to build on it.”

The Mavericks will hold one more practice Sunday in Dallas before opening the preseason Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

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