Why the Dallas Mavericks Will Be a Great League Pass Team

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 11: Dennis Smith
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 11: Dennis Smith

The Dallas Mavericks might not compete for a title this year, but they could be one of the more entertaining League Pass teams in the league.

What qualifies as a ‘League Pass’ team?

In the creation of NBA League Pass, every fan across the country was provided access to watching every one of their favorite team’s games. If you live in New York, but are a die-hard Sacramento Kings fan, League Pass enables you to still watch all of the games despite not living within the local market.

But over the years, certain teams have been dubbed ‘league pass’ teams because they aren’t good enough to have a plethora of national televised games, but are still entertaining for the casual fan.

So what qualifies as a good ‘league pass’ team?

Excitement and nostalgia…and the Dallas Mavericks have both of them.

With the 9th overall pick in the draft, the Dallas Mavericks selected the most athletic player in the draft in Dennis Smith Jr. Now, after an impressive Summer League, Smith Jr. is the favorite by many to win the Rookie of the Year award.

For the first time in really franchise history, the Mavericks have a player at the point guard spot that will be one of the most explosive players on the court.

If the excitement that Smith Jr. provides doesn’t make you turn on the Mavs game on League Pass, maybe the nostalgia of Dirk Nowitzki being on the court will.

It’s not everyday that you get to watch one of the greatest basketball players of all time play in one of, if not the last, his final seasons.

Nowitzki is entering his 20th season in the league where he is still doing his classic one-legged fadeaway and trailing three pointers. He might not be dunking over people or providing top 10 highlight plays, but just the chance to watch Nowitzki play basketball should give fans enough reasons to watch.

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Smith Jr. and Nowitzki might be the major reason casual fans would turn into a Mavs game, but there are other storylines and players that should entice fans to tune in also.

How is Nerlens Noel playing in the season where he is betting on himself? Seth Curry, the younger brother of Stephen Curry, will be getting his minutes and give the Mavs that Curry spark off the bench.

Don’t forget about Yogi-mania.

When looking at other teams across the league that could qualify as a solid  ‘League Pass’ team, the list is actually quite small.

Teams like the Pacers, Bulls, Magic, Hawks and others don’t have the entertaining factor of Smith Jr. As far as the veterans go, none of these teams have a veteran player like Nowitzki that people would be turning over to watch with the exception of maybe Wade in Chicago.

Even potential playoff teams such as the Hornets, Grizzlies and Jazz might have less League Pass appeal than what Dallas could offer.

Next: Who Will Win Rookie of the Year?

Bottom line, there isn’t many teams outside the top teams that can offer you an explosive, Rookie of the Year candidate and one of the greatest players of all-time.

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