“It’s been a whirlwind six months” is what Patrick Dumont had to say back in June, six months after he officially became the team governor of the Dallas Mavericks. There was some truth in the statement, as the final stages of the recent season had seen Luka Doncic and Co. take the franchise to a height seldom seen since the 2011 season. Along with acquiring the 5 seed through a 50-32 record, the Mavericks stood out as a tough competitor to the defending champions, Denver Nuggets, and even earned a spot in the NBA Finals. All of this may have only increased the expectations on them for the upcoming season. Before they can get into the regular season, however, the Mavericks will have to go through some matchups during the pre-season.

Along with providing an understanding of where they stand against long-time rivals, the period would also allow the squad to judge whether their new star recruit, aka Klay Thompson, vibes well with the change. Therefore, without any further ado, let us look into the franchise’s upcoming matchups.

What is the Dallas Mavericks’ Schedule for the 2024-25 Pre-Season?

According to official reports, Luka Doncic and Co. will kick off the month of October by heading to the training camp in Las Vegas. This will come just one day after the crew fulfills their media-day obligations in Dallas, on September 30. After that, the pre-season will commence with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzles. Set to take place on October 7, the Mavericks will have home-court advantage, as the American Airlines Center will be hosting both teams. According to Vivid Seats, tickets for the game are currently being sold as low as $19.

The Mavericks will also remain in the American Airlines Center for their next game, against the Utah Jazz, on October 10. Given that the Texas squad currently possesses an 8-2 record against their rival, the Jazz will have to pull off an impressive performance to rattle the home team early on. No matter what outcome comes out of the Jazz game, the Mavericks will still have to head to Inglewood, CA, to take on the LA Clippers on October 14.

The Mavericks will conclude the off-season, back home, by taking on the Milwaukee Bucks on October 17. With Giannis Antetokounmpo being absent during the 2024 playoffs due to a calf injury, anticipation would be high to see him return to the court and take on his European rival. The Bucks have stood out as one of Luka Doncic’s major rivals, as the last time the Slovenian won against them was back in April 2022. The losing streak has caused him and his squad to possess a 4-6 record against the Eastern Conference team. Therefore, if there was ever a moment to show that the Mavericks possess the same caliber as last season, it is this one!

What to expect from the Dallas Mavericks training camp?

Last year’s preseason certainly had its unusual and unique aspects, with the matchups taking place in Abu Dhabi, Madrid, etc. However, the same aspect has also been brought up for this year as well, with the training camp taking the Mavericks to Las Vegas, instead of making them stay in Dallas. The franchise will have an advantage in Sin City, as new owner Miriam Adelson is the largest shareholder of Las Vegas Sands. On top of that, Patrick Dumont also serves as president and COO of Sands Corp. This allows some cost to be saved when it comes to living expenses for the brief period.

The training camp will be held on the grounds of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from Oct 1 to October 4. NBA reporter Marc Stein highlighted the details for the same by stating, “I’m told that the Mavericks are aiming to hold a healthy portion of their training camp in Las Vegas in early October after conducting the usual Media Day that every NBA team stages locally on Sept. 30.”

Why the Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers matchup is a must-watch?

The Mavericks-Clippers matchup on October 14th will mark one of the first games to take place at the newly constructed Intuit Dome. Built at a reported cost of $2 billion, it boasts an 80,000-square-foot outdoor plaza, regulation-size outdoor basketball court, amphitheater-styled staircase, and several other features. The highlight, however, is the state-of-the-art Halo Board, possessing a 360-degree build that is also reportedly fitted with a T-shirt cannon! Along with charging amenities, the seats also have four buttons on the armrest to give fans free rein to participate in live competitions. The popcorn going to be sold has been personally tested and approved by Stephen Curry himself, who had earlier placed the Crypto.Com Arena, then known as the Staples Center, dead last in his rankings of ‘popcorn analysis of arena.’

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has gone as far as to call the new arena a “basketball mecca.”

The Clippers have proven to be tough competitors over the last couple of years, with the Mavericks only holding a 6-4 win record over them. As a result, the matchup may end up being more highly anticipated than the Jazz one. The same is even reflected in the ticket prices, as one would not be able to find a ticket lower than $48 today. Since 2020, the two franchises have competed in the playoffs on three separate occasions, that too in the first round! The LA Clippers had the advantage in 2020 and 2021, while the Mavs only recently stepped up. Before they can look to meet again in the playoffs, however, the pre-season game will tell them where they stand.

What are your expectations for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2024-25 season? Let us know in the comments down below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.