Mavericks need P.J. Washington's enforcer mentality to protect their new era

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington is known for his physicality on the wing. Standing at 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-2.5 wingspan and weighing 230 pounds, he already has an intimidating frame. Add in the fact that he doesn't back down from anyone, plays much bigger than his height, and always stands up for his teammates, and Washington has the perfect mold to be Dallas' enforcer of the new era.

Why P.J. Washington needs to be Dallas' top enforcer

The Mavericks are a much younger team than they were when Washington was traded to Dallas at the trade deadline in 2024, meaning that there's more of a need for him to embrace this role. Most enforcers in today's NBA are veterans, and with young players being easy targets for trash talk and chippy plays, Washington has a great chance to step up here.

His vocal leadership and tenacity have been pillars of his game as a Maverick, and helping Dallas be the more physical team from the opening tip to the final buzzer will give them an edge. The Mavs have to be ready to throw the first punch (not literally) as they begin the Dusty May era with 10 of their 18 players being 24 years old or younger, and Washington will be a big part of the team's identity.

Washington is as tough as they come

He is one of the longest-tenured players on the team and one of four players who remain from the 2024 NBA Finals team. His experience in high-pressure moments will help Dallas remain poised and unafraid when their back is against the wall.

Washington has already had several enforcer-like moments as a Maverick. He stood up for Daniel Gafford following a hard foul from Jalen Duren in 2024, shoved Jusuf Nurkic to the ground after he struck Naji Marshall in the head, and pushed Russell Westbrook after he shoved Luka Doncic in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Several of these plays led to ejections, and he clearly isn't afraid to "stand on business" when needed.

Washington will bring an edge alongside Cooper Flagg

Dallas needs this type of energy as they try to snap a two-year playoff drought, and fans should be excited about the edge that Washington plays with moving forward. This edge could be magnified even more with so many new faces in town, and with Cooper Flagg emerging as one of the best young players in the NBA, Washington will be by his side if things ever get out of hand on the court.

Washington was always one of the first people to defend Luka Doncic in chippy games, and he'll likely do the same thing for Flagg. He knows his role, and this part of his game is what makes him such a valuable role player that any playoff team would love to have.

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