Advertisement

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd reveals interesting plan for fan-favorite rookie

Noah Weber
Noah Weber

The Smoking Cuban

Minnesota Timberwolves v Dallas Mavericks / Christopher Pike/GettyImages

During training camp, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said that both Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper would be in the starting lineup to start the preseason.

This was to test their fit next to the "big group," which was Luka Doncic, Grant Williams, and Kyrie Irving (the confirmed starters), and one rookie was clearly ready for the big spotlight while the other was not.

Lively II showed that he belonged in the starting lineup immediately as he was a great lob threat for Doncic, but Prosper's game was a bit too raw to receive NBA minutes right away.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd reveals interesting plan for fan-favorite rookie

He struggled shooting the ball, and his lack of confidence was clear. This caused his preseason minutes to decrease, and he was not a part of Dallas' rotation to start the season.

In the first seven games, Prosper has only played one minute. Dallas is hot to start the season and sitting at 6-1, and it doesn't look like Prosper will be making an impact on the floor for a while.

One way to speed up Prosper's development could be sending him down to the G League to play for the Texas Legends, but it doesn't seem like Dallas is planning on doing that yet.

During his pregame media availibility, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd was asked if there have been any conversations with Prosper playing in the G League, and here's what he had to say.

"There hasn't been any talk about him playing in the G League," Kidd said. "He's doing everything to get ready to play here."

This may be a disappointment for some fans, as the G League worked wonders for Jaden Hardy last season, but Prosper still seems to be developing at a high level during practice according to Kidd.

He also complimented Prosper's consistency and said, "I think when he gets his chance, he's going to be ready."

Will Prosper get a chance to display his talents on the floor soon, or will he continue to not be in the rotation?

Only time will tell.

For all the latest on Olivier-Maxence Prosper and the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.