Mavericks' unexpected rivalry poised to grow more with Western Conference foe

Throughout the history of the franchise, the Dallas Mavericks will forever have their fair share of rivalries. Two of the Mavs' biggest rivals are in-state rivals the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. The Mavs and Spurs rivalry is something that appears to be heating up again with the two teams playing each other on opening night on TNT.

Two more rivalries expecting to grow more for the Mavs are the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. With long-time Warrior Klay Thompson now with the Mavericks after a sign-and-trade, it adds intensity. With a recent and hard fought 2024 Western Conference Finals series against the Timberwolves, it has formed a new rivalry. Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards both being young elite superstars also helps add fuel to the fire. The Mavs and Timberwolves will also play a marquee Christmas game against each other.

The Western Conference will have many teams looking to be the best team in the conference. However, there is one team in the Western Conference that is poised to be in the running for years that the Mavs might not think about that has the potential to spark an intense rivalry.

Mavs' rivalry with the Thunder is poised to intensify

A rivalry for the Mavs that will begin to grow more for years to come happens to be a team that the Mavs defeated in their 2024 NBA Finals run, the Oklahoma City Thunder. At first, it might seem odd that this rivalry can grow more with both teams being in two different divisions, but it will grow.

The Mavs have their young elite superstar of Doncic and their sidekick Kyrie Irving. The Thunder has similarity with their young elite superstar of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and their sidekick of Chet Holmgren. With Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander losing out on the 2024 NBA MVP to Nikola Jokic, it will add more motivation for both of them to win the MVP in the future.

With playing a hard fought series in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, it could be the start of many playoff meetings in the future. Prior to 2024, the Mavs only met the Thunder once in the playoffs and it went ugly with getting swept in the 2012 first round, but last season could be the first of many more with how talented both teams are.

Distance also adds to the rivalry. The distance from American Airlines Center in Dallas to Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is 204 miles apart. That is shorter than the American Airlines Center's distance to Toyota Center in Houston which is 243 miles apart, and also American Airlines Center's distance to Frost Bank Center in San Antonio which is 271 miles apart. For years to come, it's more easier for Mavs fans to take a road trip up North on I-35 to see the Mavs play in Oklahoma City than it is to take I-45 South to Houston or I-35 South to San Antonio.

While Mavs fans have hatred to the two NBA teams from Texas, as well as potentially for the Warriors and Timberwolves, the rivalry with the Thunder is one that will be on the rise for years to come. 2024 was the first time in 12 years the two teams played in the playoffs, but that could start to change.