The Dallas Mavericks have dropped to a 1-3 start to the season after a tough loss to the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Monday. The Mavericks trailed by as much as 22 points but rallied to come within one point in the final minute before the Thunder ultimately held them off.
Max Christie, who is earning $32 million on his current contract according to Spotrac, acknowledged that the Mavericks have been playing under a lot of stress to start the season. He also emphasized that the team needs to do a better job managing this stress as the season progresses.
Aside from the Thunder, who remain undefeated with a 4-0 record so far, the Mavericks suffered losses against the San Antonio Spurs—led by Victor Wembanyama—in their season opener, and an early-season upset to the Washington Wizards.
Christie has been a solid contributor for Dallas, averaging 11.7 points per game. Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ rookie Cooper Flagg continues to struggle this season. Against the Thunder, Flagg had his worst performance so far, scoring just two points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field. Head coach Jason Kidd revealed that the 19-year-old rookie played through shoulder soreness during the game.
Anthony Davis has been carrying the heavy load for the Mavericks this season, posting impressive averages of 24.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game.
### Coach Jason Kidd Calls for Fans’ Patience Amid Rough Start
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is calling on the fanbase to remain patient despite the rough start to the season. Kidd noted that the team is still in the process of understanding each other and improving with every game, even as some fans have expressed frustration with “Fire Nico” chants during home games.
“I think they have a right to vent, but there’s a patience [needed],” Kidd said. “It’s a different team, it’s a new team. We’re just getting to understand each other. We’re going to keep learning each other. So I would say be patient, but I understand the frustration. We all want to win. We all want to compete at a high level, but it’s a game of expression, and fans have a right to express themselves. But that doesn’t stop us from coming to work tomorrow and getting better.”
Notably, the Mavericks remain without veteran guard Kyrie Irving, who is still recovering from a torn ACL he sustained late last season.
The team will next face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, October 29.
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