6 Rival opponents we'd love to see the Mavericks start the 2024-25 season against

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

Just like the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Oklahoma City Thunder are another team that is looking to get revenge next season against the Dallas Mavericks. After all, the Mavs knocked off the Western Conference's top seed in six games in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

It would make sense for the Mavs and Thunder to play in the first game of the year because Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Doncic finished third in MVP voting, and Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in MVP voting behind Nikola Jokic. A statement win in the first game would be a great way to set the tone for next season.

Having the two teams play each other in the first game can also show why either Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander should've won MVP over Jokic.

The Thunder were arguably the toughest team in the Mavs' run to the 2024 NBA Finals. The Mavs won the series in six games, and three of the games in the series were decided by five points or less. Even if the Mavs were to open in OKC, the Mavs proved they could win on the road. The Mavs won two of the three games in OKC in the series.

The Mavs and Thunder are destined to have their rivalry grow more from the playoffs. To have the rivalry intensify more, the Mavs and Thunder playing in the opening game would be a great game to watch to start the season.

It's clear that Doncic and Lu Dort have a rivalry of their own, and Mavs fans grew to dislike Dort throughout the series due to his reckless defense which caused Doncic to get hurt, so this game to open the year would get the excitement going for both fanbases.

Thunder fans in particular have seemingly grew to dislike Doncic after the hard-fought playoff series, and both of these teams have bright futures atop the Western Conference.