Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks took a step back last season following their 2022 run to the Western Conference Finals. The team’s struggles, despite a midseason trade for Kyrie Irving, resulted in Dallas missing the postseason for the first time since Luka Doncic’s rookie season. While the on-court product regressed, the Mavericks medical staff remained a top-10 rated unit in the league. Even when injuries did occur, like the hamstring tendon tear for forward Maxi Kleber, the group managed to return player’s quicker than the norm. 

Despite the sustained success, the medical team was restructured in the offseason. Director of Player Health and Performance Casey Smith will no longer have his normal front-of-the-bench role. Dionne Calhoun, a long-time member of the staff and head athletic trainer since 2019, will assume those responsibilities.  Look for Calhoun and the rest of the unit to maintain the group’s recent success to bolster Dallas’ chances of returning to the postseason.