Mavericks' once-concerning depth behind Kyrie Irving is suddenly a strength

Before the 2026-27 season began, one of many Dallas Mavericks fans' biggest concerns about the roster was the point guard depth behind Kyrie Irving. Initially, Marcus Sasser and Sergio De Larrea were the only two true point guards on the roster. Since then, they've signed Walter Clayton Jr. to a two-way deal, but the point still stands.

It didn't look like Dallas had the firepower in the backcourt to survive the minutes Kyrie was on the bench or out of the lineup, but this season has told a different story. Specifically, Saturday night's home opener against the San Antonio Spurs.

Sergio De Larrea stole the show against San Antonio

Dallas was without Irving in this game after an exciting victory over the Indiana Pacers the night before, and De Larrea's first regular-season game at the American Airlines Center served as his coming-out party. He finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists, showing he's ready for rotation minutes after playing just eight minutes combined in the first two games.

His 3-point shooting was excellent. He shot 3-for-4 from beyond the arc and looked extremely comfortable in his role. Despite being defended by some of the Spurs' best perimeter defenders, De Larrea was getting to his spots, shooting threes within the flow of the offense, and getting to the paint. He was consistently draining floaters, showing his craftiness off the dribble, and Dusty May needs to play him moving forward.

Marcus Sasser is giving Dallas a reliable scoring option

While Saturday night's game was all about Sergio, Sasser has had a productive first three games. He's averaging 11.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 59.1 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from long range.

His shot creation and 3-point shooting have both been strong so far, as he has showcased an ability to space the floor as a shooter off the catch or a creator off the dribble, and he has a good floater as well. He finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and five assists versus the Spurs, and he and De Larrea were the only two non-starters who finished with at least 10 points.

Sasser and De Larrea could form a dangerous bench duo

Sasser has quickly solidified himself as one of the Mavs’ top guards off the bench, and he and De Larrea spent time on the court together against San Antonio. They each played a massive role in keeping that game close for three quarters, and Sergio likes playing alongside Sasser.

”I think we do a good duo at the end,” De Larrea said. “He can release the pressure…spread the court, he can shoot, he’s making a lot of threes, so for me, it’s very good to have this kind of teammates to pass to them and be sure they are making shots.”

De Larrea's positional size at 6-foot-6 combined with Sasser's versatility as a floor spacer and off-ball option at 6-foot-1 make this duo's potential exciting, and the future of the Mavericks' backcourt could rest in their hands if they continue to play this well.

While De Larrea and Sasser might not spend as much time playing together when Cooper Flagg and Irving are in the lineup, Saturday night's game was a clear sign that Dallas' backcourt depth isn't as much of a concern as once expected. Both players bring valuable skill sets that the Mavericks need, and their bench unit is in good hands for now, and the future.

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