Mavericks' starting lineup dilemma is becoming impossible for Jason Kidd to ignore

It is no secret that Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams is having a career year. In fact, while Williams has continued to torch the scoreboard and put defenses on their heels, he has quickly made a case for himself that he deserves to be Dallas' nightly starter from here on out.

With Kyrie Irving still sidelined with his torn ACL, Mavericks rookie Ryan Nembhard has handled the starting guard duties for most of the season despite only being on a two-way contract. While he has had some bright moments early in his rookie campaign, it's hard to deny the fact that Williams has been beating him out for that starting job since the beginning of December.

In December alone, Williams averaged an impressive 12 points and 3.7 assists per outing, with him scoring 22 and 26 points in the final two games of the 2025 calendar year. To make Williams' case for starting even stronger, Nembhard has continued to struggle on both sides of the floor, which may be a cause for the Mavericks' three straight losses.

Williams flat-out deserves to be the Mavericks' starting point guard

There is no denying that trying to compete at the top of the Western Conference is a pipedream the team has likely accepted won't be a reality this season, but this doesn't mean that Jason Kidd should avoid starting lineup changes in an attempt to win more games. Williams has rightfully deserved the starting guard duties in Dallas despite his lack of a consistent 3-point shot, and the energy he provides off the bench always gives the Mavericks a spark.

Williams may not be the pass-first guard that Nembhard is, but his constant flashes of speed to the basket and incredible handles are bound to make him an optimal starting guard for the Mavericks. Alongside Cooper Flagg, Williams can provide the 19-year-old with optimal spacing while constantly moving off the ball to be a team-friendly guard.

Williams has already proven that he can be a starting-worthy guard in big-time moments, as he was one of the most consistent players on the team during their run to the Play-In Tournament last season, but with a cloudy offseason ahead with Williams' future hanging in the balance, the Mavericks may be forced to milk every last ounce they can get out of him. To many fans, starting Nembhard and giving him the most reps makes perfect sense, but with him continuing to struggle and not providing much of an offensive punch, the argument against Williams starting grows weaker by the day.

The Mavericks already have a lot on their plate when it comes to the future of the team, with Anthony Davis trade rumors looming, and if they view Williams as a tradeable asset to potentially package in a Davis trade, starting him would be smart. It would not only increase his trade value as he continues to heat up, but it would give Kidd a clear look at whether Williams can be a future piece alongside Flagg.

Wins may be hard to come by for the Mavericks this season, but there is no denying that Williams has earned the right to be one of the Mavericks' five starters on a nightly basis. Kidd is already playing him more minutes than Nembhard consistently, and it's time to rip the band-aid off and make him a starter.