NBA Draft's nonstop chaos just reignited Mavericks' most underrated rivalry

The Dallas Mavericks have quietly put together an impressive team that can potentially challenge for a title in 2026. While the already infamous Luka Doncic trade has dominated talks around the Mavs, they have assembled a team with adequate star power and depth to challenge the likes of Oklahoma City and Denver for a ticket to the NBA Finals.

Another Texas team has also quietly assembled an impressive team this year: the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs picked up De'Aaron Fox at the trade deadline in an underrated pickup, essentially acquiring the All-Star without giving up any valuable pieces. The Spurs drafted Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant in this year's draft, equipping San Antonio with their star guard of the future and a potential matchup nightmare on the wing.

The Mavs and Spurs had a heated rivalry, dubbed the I-35 rivalry, from the 2000s to the early 2010s. Both teams had the two best power forwards of all time and met six times in the playoffs over a 13 year span. After meeting in 2014, the rivalry faded as both teams regressed with their star power forwards.

Mavs and Spurs are on a crash course to reignite their forgotten rivalry

The Mavericks were able to rebound from the Dirk era quicker than the Spurs could from the Tim Duncan era, reaching the playoffs multiple times this decade. However, the Luka Doncic trade has put both teams on an even playing field. Both teams are assembling star cores that are bound to reignite the I-35 rivalry.

Like the I-35 rivalry of old, both teams have parallels that are bound to spark their intense (yet exciting) rivalry. Both teams have drafted the two best prospects of this decade, the Mavericks with Cooper Flagg and the Spurs with Victor Wembanyama.

Both teams have deep rotations full of NBA-capable players, with the Mavs having a deep wing rotation while the Spurs have a guard-heavy supporting cast. The two teams mirror each other in overall quality, yet each has its distinct strengths and weaknesses to counter each other.

Dallas and San Antonio also held the top two picks of the 2025 Draft. Flagg will almost certainly be better than Dylan Harper, the new Spurs star, but the two rivals holding back-to-back picks will fuel the drama behind the matchup.

The Spurs signing former Mavs Assistant Coach Sean Sweeney adds another layer of fuel to the fireworks behind the rivalry. Sweeney has spent his entire coaching career under Mavs coach Jason Kidd. The two coaches know each other very well, and the coaching chess match set to follow will be a delight for fans to watch.

The two Texas powerhouses have also become contenders in the 2026 season. While Nico Harrison has been ridiculed for the Luka Doncic trade, Anthony Davis fits this version of the Mavs better than Doncic did. While this does not justify the trade, it does mean the Mavs are more likely to make noise in the postseason in the short term. The big three of Flagg, Davis, and Kyrie Irving will be dangerous in the playoffs, assuming good health.

Similarly, the Spurs have assembled a big three to match Dallas's trio. Wembanyama, Fox, and Harper are a solid star core to build around, and the young team has a deep bench similar to the Pacers (which the Mavs also have).

Dallas and San Antonio both belong to the Southwest Division, meaning the I-35 rivalry will be played four times in the regular season. The two teams have built equal but opposite teams that will bring excitement to both franchises. Fans should be excited for the return of one of the NBA's most underrated rivalries.