The Dallas Mavericks are dangerously close to making NBA history—but for all the wrong reasons. With a roster decimated by injuries and no way to sign reinforcements, they are one setback away from becoming the first team in league history to forfeit a game due to lack of available players.
It’s a situation that feels almost cursed, as if the basketball gods are punishing the franchise for trading away Luka Dončić. Since moving on from their superstar, the Mavericks have been hit with an unprecedented string of injuries that has left their rotation in shambles.
Here’s the brutal reality of their roster situation:
- Out for the Season: Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, Dante Exum, Olivier Maxence-Prosper
- Currently Injured: Anthony Davis (adductor), Dereck Lively II (foot), Jaden Hardy (ankle), Caleb Martin (hip), Kai Jones (quad)
Right now, Dallas has exactly eight healthy players—the minimum required to take the court. But that number is hanging by a thread. One more injury, and the Mavericks will find themselves in uncharted territory, forced to forfeit.
To make matters worse, the team’s financial decisions have backed them into a corner. By operating over the hard cap, Dallas is unable to sign free agents or G-League players as emergency replacements. The two G-Leaguers currently on the roster are approaching their maximum number of allowed games, leaving the Mavericks with no safety net.
With no reinforcements coming, at least two injured players need to return immediately to keep Dallas from becoming an unfortunate footnote in NBA history. Otherwise, one more injury will push them into an infamous, unprecedented situation.