DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May sees plenty of room for growth as his young players continue adjusting to the demands of the NBA.
May spoke about the importance of patience and development, particularly with a 19-year-old player who is already learning what it means to face different defensive schemes while becoming a focal point for opposing teams.
May said the player’s intelligence and approach as a teammate have stood out, traits he believes can help accelerate his development.
“He’s very intelligent and he’s a great teammate,” May said.
Rather than placing the burden of success on one player, May stressed the importance of the entire group working together. The Mavericks have players with different skill sets, and the challenge will be finding ways to make those strengths complement one another.
“I think we just have to do a great job of blending all of their unique traits and talents together,” May said. “And not look at this guy versus that guy. It’s more of these three guys that really, really complement each other.”
That philosophy will be important over the course of an 82-game season, when injuries, matchups and different playing styles can force teams to adjust from game to game.
May said the Mavericks want to be capable of succeeding regardless of how a particular game unfolds.
“We want to be able to win any style,” May said.
The long-term goal is not simply to establish one way of playing, but to build a team capable of adapting when opponents take away certain strengths.
Staying focused in NBA environments
May also discussed the experience his players gained from playing in some of the NBA’s more prominent arenas last season.
One player mentioned playing in roughly eight NBA arenas, including Madison Square Garden, and experiencing the atmosphere that comes with those environments.
That experience can help players prepare for the heightened attention and intensity that accompany marquee games.
Still, the player said his approach once the game begins remains the same.
For 48 minutes, his focus is on the court and the task in front of him.
May’s comments reflect an emphasis on developing that level of focus while allowing the Mavericks’ young players to grow within the team’s larger structure.
With a long regular season followed by the potential for a seven-game playoff series, May understands that the Mavericks will need more than individual talent.
They will need players who can complement one another, adjust to different styles and remain focused when the stakes rise.
For May, that process starts with development and continues with building a team capable of handling whatever the season brings.
