Mavericks' forgotten breakout was destroyed by injuries again

Right after playing his best basketball of the season for the first few months of 2026 for the Dallas Mavericks, Caleb Martin's production hit a wall. He only played in eight games from March 1 until the end of the season, and injuries took their toll on him once again.

Caleb Martin's injuries happen way too often

Martin did not touch the court for the Mavericks over their final 14 games of the regular season, as he was dealing with a right plantar fascia sprain. What once looked like a positive season for Martin quickly turned dark due to his inability to stay on the court, and Mavericks fans have to be wondering whether he'll ever be able to stay healthy.

He's under contract until the end of the 2027-28 season, and he has to find a way to stay on the court. Availability is the best ability, and with how last season went for the whole team, Martin has to turn a page.

His time in Dallas has been defined by injuries, and he was even hurt when the team acquired him in exchange for Quentin Grimes at the trade deadline in 2025. He didn't play for over a month following the trade, and even when he was on the court, he wasn't productive.

Martin averaged just 5.4 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 25 percent from downtown during his first season with Dallas. But this season, he showed he can be a solid role player when healthy. He averaged 6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from beyond the arc in January and February, and looked like someone who could be a strong rotation piece during the Cooper Flagg era.

The Mavericks can't afford for this to keep happening

His defense, 3-point shooting off the catch, and energy were pivotal for the Mavs during those two months, and Mavs fans had some hope once again. They knew he was never going to live up to how Grimes is playing in Philadelphia, but even some production is better than no production.

Dallas is going to need him to stay on the court if they want him to take the next step and become a key piece of their rotation, and they're going to need him. Their point-of-attack defense was one of their many weaknesses last season, and Martin is one of the few players on the roster who actually thrives in this area.

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