‘Not The Wizards Of Old’: Jason Kidd Warns Mavericks About Rebuilt Washington Team
Jason Kidd didn’t need to remind his team what happened on opening night. The Dallas Mavericks’ 125-92 loss to the San Antonio Spurs was still fresh when practice began Thursday, but Kidd’s message quickly shifted from reflection to readiness.
With the Washington Wizards coming to town Friday, Kidd said the Mavericks can’t afford to underestimate a team that looks entirely different from the one fans might remember.
“This is not the Wizards of old,” Kidd said. “They’ve got a lot of veterans who can score and a young group that’s hungry. Khris [Middleton] and CJ [McCollum] can hurt you from everywhere, and the young guys — Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George — they’re not afraid of the moment. We’ve got to be ready to defend and play connected.”
A New-Look Washington Wizards
Washington opened its season with a 133-120 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks but showed the kind of balance and competitiveness Kidd expects to see again Friday. Middleton scored 23 points in his debut, while rookie Tre Johnson made franchise history with 16 points in his first NBA game. Kyshawn George added 21 points and filled the stat sheet, and Alex Sarr controlled the glass in the frontcourt.
The Wizards’ roster underwent a major transformation over the summer. Middleton and McCollum arrived through trades, Johnson was selected sixth overall in the draft, and newcomers such as Cam Whitmore, Malaki Branham, and Bub Carrington have added depth and youth. Holdovers like Bilal Coulibaly, Corey Kispert, and George give the team continuity.
“They’ve got a nice mix,” Kidd said. “You’ve got vets who know how to win and a lot of young legs who are going to play with energy. Coach Keefe has them competing. They were down big in Milwaukee and fought back — that tells you what kind of effort you’re going to see.”
Cleaning Up the Details
For the Mavericks, the challenge begins with addressing their own issues. Dallas surrendered 68 points in the paint and 31 on the fast break against San Antonio, numbers Kidd said stemmed from defensive lapses and poor floor balance.
“Our defense starts with our offense,” Kidd said. “When we’re taking quick shots or turning it over, it leads to transition points the other way. We’ve got to take care of the ball, trust the pass, and get back to protecting the paint. Those are things we can fix right away.”
Anthony Davis, who recorded 22 points and 13 rebounds in the loss, echoed that message, saying that structure and communication must improve.
“Our transition defense was terrible,” Davis said. “We fouled too much, and they scored 30 in transition. We’re not going to win like that. We’ll learn from it and move forward.”
Kidd said he expects the group to respond.
“We talked about competing, about trust,” he said. “It’s not one guy — it’s all of us. The talk has to be better, the help has to be better, and we’ve got to stay connected for 48 minutes.”
Cooper Flagg’s Learning Curve Continues
Friday will mark another step in the development of rookie Cooper Flagg, who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in his debut. Kidd said the 18-year-old’s maturity and willingness to learn have stood out through the early stages of the season.
“He did a really good job trying to get others involved,” Kidd said. “In that second and third quarter, he started to look to be aggressive for his shot. The more he’s in these situations, the better. He’s only 18, so these are all valuable reps.”
Flagg said the focus for Dallas entering its home stand is simple — better spacing, cleaner execution, and communication on both ends.
“We’ve got to keep working on our flow,” Flagg said. “A lot of it comes from getting stops — that helps us push in transition and get early looks.”
The Matchup Ahead
Washington’s veteran-youth blend poses a different challenge than San Antonio’s size and length. McCollum and Middleton bring shot-creation and leadership, while George and Johnson are capable of igniting runs from the perimeter.
“They can play fast, they can spread you out,” Kidd said. “You can’t just focus on one guy. We’ve got to be disciplined in transition and make sure we contest everything.”
With both teams seeking their first win of the season, Kidd said the Mavericks’ response will reveal plenty about their mindset.
“It’s early,” he said. “But this is a good test for us — to see how we bounce back, how we compete, and how we correct the little things.”
Tipoff between the Mavericks and Wizards is set for 7:30 p.m. CST at American Airlines Center.
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