For NBA fans, hope springs eternal this time of year.
It’s the time of the year when anything is possible. The Mavericks could yet become a juggernaut in the West and make their way to a title. No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg could burst onto the scene and put together a rookie season for the ages.
But, really, what are the chances any of that will happen? For that, look to Las Vegas.
Here’s a few notable preseason odds for the Dallas Mavericks and some of their most notable players, according to FanDuel (as of Aug. 3):
Mavericks
Championship chances
As a team, the Mavericks received the 12th-best odds (+3300) to win the NBA Finals in 2026. They have the eighth-best odds (+2000) to win the Western Conference and return to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
Zooming in further to the Southwest Division, Dallas has the third-best odds to win their division at +1100, slotting behind the Rockets (-350) and Spurs (+700).
The team’s over-under for regular season wins is set at 40.5 after winning 39 games in an injury-ravaged 2024-25 season that saw the team lose in the Play-In Tournament. It should be noted that Dallas is favored to go over that 40.5 win total, as the over has -130 odds and the under is -102.
Sportsbooks view the Mavericks as close to a coin flip to make the playoffs. Dallas is -106 to make the playofffs and -125 to miss them on FanDuel. Seems like Las Vegas isn’t as bullish on the Mavericks as most are, especially with Kyrie Irving set to miss a massive chunk of the season.
Cooper Flagg
No surprises here, but according to FanDuel, Flagg is the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year for the upcoming season. At -185, his odds are leagues above second-best Tre Johnson, the former Texas standout now with the Washington Wizards, at +800.
Beyond that, FanDuel also gave Flagg +50000 odds to become the first rookie to win the MVP since Wes Unseld in 1969. He also received similarly long odds to win Defensive Player of the Year (+50000) and Clutch Player of the Year (+20000).
Anthony Davis
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis celebrates with guard Jaden Hardy (1) after dunking on an alley-oop from guard Klay Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
Anthony Davis has the joint 18th-best MVP odds in the league at +20000 along with Tyrese Maxey, LaMelo Ball and Evan Mobley.
The five-time All-Defensive team big man is near the top of the list for possible Defensive Player of the Year winners, but is still a longshot to capture his first DPOY award. Davis is tied for the fourth-best odds with Houston’s Amen Thompson at +3000, but San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama is the overwhelming favorite at -190.
Davis is also on FanDuel’s Clutch Player of the Year odds at +7500.
Other award candidates and longshots
Think you have a hunch about some other players on the Mavericks taking home some hardware? There’s a few longshots that are available.
Daniel Gafford is at the bottom of FanDuel’s DPOY odds, listed as a +50000 longshot to win the award.
Do you think Max Christie takes a huge leap and becomes a big-time player for the Mavs in 2025-26? He’s available at +7500 odds to win Most Improved Player, while Dereck Lively II is listed at +10000 to win the award.
Could the Mavs have a surprising spark off the bench that takes over the league this year? If you think that could be P.J. Washington, he is listed at +3500 to win Sixth Man of the Year. It’s interesting that Washington has the best odds among Dallas players to win that award given the looming lineup questions at the forward position with the Mavs’ crowded frontcourt. Christie and Gafford are both +20000 to win the award as well.
Speaking of those lineup questions, if you think Jason Kidd is going to find the perfect combination for the Mavs’ crowded frontcourt and spark a surprisingly great season in Dallas in 2025-26, you can bet Kidd to win Coach of the Year at +7500 odds. Of note, former Mavericks assistant coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic is the favorite to win the award at +400.
What about Luka?
If you’re still faithful to the Mavericks but will always root for Luka Doncic to have success, Doncic is one of the favorites for the big-time awards heading into his first full season as a Laker.
Doncic has the third-best odds to win the MVP at +500, listed behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. He is also +1000 (second-best odds) to win the Clutch Player of the Year.
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.