The Dallas Mavericks have plenty of veteran leadership on the 2025-26 NBA team. D'Angelo Russell, who signed with the Mavs this offseason, recently used a “Halloween party” example to explain Anthony Davis' veteran leadership.
“You obviously know, with AD (Davis), what you're gonna get,” Russell recently said, via The Backyard Podcast w/ D'Angelo Russell. “AD's such a good vet. I remember he hosted a Halloween party at his house. He hosted a Halloween party at his house… He had the whole theme out there. He had the haunted maze, he had the haunted trailer parks… Everybody dressed up… He killed it.”
Of course, Davis was acquired as part of the Luka Doncic trade in February. The upcoming campaign will represent his first full season in Dallas with the Mavs. Not only is AD a respected veteran, but he is still one of the best players in the league when healthy.
Veteran leadership certainly will not be an issue with this Mavericks team. In addition to AD, players such as Russell, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson will help lead the way. They will all likely play a role in 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg's development at the NBA level as well.
The Doncic trade obviously shocked the NBA world and left many fans in Dallas feeling frustrated. However, the future is bright for the Mavs. Although losing Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers is not ideal, this Mavericks squad is talented. They will be a team to closely follow throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
Perhaps Anthony Davis will host another Halloween party this year, too.
