Dallas Mavericks' newest heated rivalry will erupt early in 2024-25 season

Heading into the 2024-25 NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks are going to have a target on their back.

Dallas exceeded everyone's expectations to close the 2023-24 season and throughout their run to the 2023 NBA Finals, and everyone is going to want to beat them. The Mavs have made the moves necessary to ensure that they remain elite contenders such as signing Klay Thompson and trading for Quentin Grimes, but making the NBA Finals again won't be easy.

Excitement is building from Mavs fans as they anticipate the 2024-25 season, and Dallas' newest rivalry that fans are fired up about is going to begin much quicker than expected.

Mavericks-Warriors rivalry will reignite on November 12

The Mavericks and Golden State Warriors already had a small rivalry over the last few years considering that the Warriors bounced the Mavs in the 2022 NBA Playoffs, and this rivalry is predicted to intensify now that Thompson is on the Mavs.

Dallas' rivalry with Golden State will quickly reignite, as Thompson's return to the Bay is set for November 12 and will be a nationally televised game according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic. This game is less than a month after the season officially begins, and the Mavs' rivalry with the Warriors will get going quickly.

While this will likely be an emotional game for Thompson as he played for the Warriors for 13 seasons, this will also be his chance to prove that the Warriors messed up by not offering him more money or prioritizing him as they did with some of their other players such as Andrew Wiggins.

Thompson gave his heart to the Warriors, but after the disrespect they threw his way last season, he is motivated to win his fifth ring in Dallas. He is going to be able to show the world that he is still the same player he once was when he returns to Chase Center, and this rivalry is going to be fun to watch.

Both teams have superstar guards in Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry, and they both also have enforcers who aren't afraid to stick up for their teammates in Naji Marshall and Draymond Green. These games are bound to be filled with heated moments, and this matchup between Dallas and Golden State is going to be filled with plenty of storylines.

Mavs-Warriors games seemingly always go down to the wire, and this could end up turning out to be one of the biggest rivalries in the Western Conference depending on how this November 12 game goes.

Both teams are motivated to run the Western Conference next season, and the Mavs-Warriors rivalry which is partially fueled by Thompson signing with Dallas is just beginning.