Mavericks’ new hidden gem will be even better once he unleashes his secret weapon

Vsevolod "Seva" Ishchenko's rise has been one of the Dallas Mavericks’ best stories at NBA Summer League. They found great value at the end of the 2026 NBA Draft, as he was drafted with the No. 56 pick, and fans need to remember his name.

Ishchenko may not have been a known commodity before Summer League, but he’s looking like one of the biggest hidden gems of the second round.

His defense, hustle, physicality, and connectivity have helped him string together a productive first three games in Las Vegas under Joe Boylan, but he hasn’t even utilized the secret weapon that made him so great while playing for Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia: 3-point shooting.

Mavericks fans who have only watched him during Summer League don't even know that he's a good 3-point shooter, and this is easily his most slept-on skill through three games. He has only taken two threes so far, and it's going to be game-changing once he starts letting it fly from beyond the arc.

Vsevolod Ishchenko hasn't even shown one of his biggest strengths yet

After the Mavs agreed to trade cash considerations to the Los Angeles Lakers for Ishchenko's draft rights on draft night, one of the biggest things that stuck out about his game was his 3-point shooting. His intangibles, feel for the game, and skill at 6-foot-8 were major draws as well, but his shooting was something Mavs fans were excited about.

When watching his Lokomotiv Kuban film, his ability to hit threes off the catch and off the dribble was clear right away. He shot 46.3 percent from three in his final season in Russia, and with him shooting over 80.1 percent from the free-throw line, there are clear signs that he has real upside as a shooter.

He was a tough shotmaker, and it seemed like he would utilize this often while playing for Dallas, considering how poorly they shot last season.

Dallas was one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA, and they badly needed to add more shooting this offseason. Seva proved overseas that he can knock down threes, but his shooting has become his secret weapon since he hasn’t made a single shot from beyond the arc at the NBA Summer League.

Many Mavs fans have been enamored with all of the skills that he provides elsewhere, but his shooting has flown way under the radar. His defensive versatility, tenacity, and feel for the game are what have made him a staple in Boylan’s rotation, but he hasn’t even gotten to show off his shooting yet.

Once Ishchenko gets more confident in his jumper and begins to make looks from outside, that will be a better representation of the type of player he can be.

Ishchenko's shooting will help open up other parts of his game

He already looks like a solid do-it-all guard/wing who leaves his mark on the game by making winning plays, crashing the glass on both ends, and impacting the game with his length and physicality. The Lakers’ decision to send him to Dallas already looks questionable, but when he unleashes that jumper, the Mavericks’ move to get him is going to look like highway robbery.

Defenses will be forced to guard him tightly on the perimeter, allowing him to use his handle to beat them off the dribble before finishing in the paint or passing the ball to an open teammate. If players don’t close out on him, he can make them pay by drilling the open three.

Seva has already exemplified many qualities that make him look like someone who will stick in the NBA through his performance at the NBA Summer League, but once he adds that jumper, it will be even clearer. Mike Schmitz and Masai Ujiri struck gold in their first draft together in Dallas by making a move for the 21-year-old wing, and once he starts taking and making threes with confidence, this will be even clearer.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow