Mavericks coach Jason Kidd loves that Dwight Powell does the little things

The Dallas Mavericks hired Jason Kidd to replace long-time and championship head coach Rick Carlisle this summer, and the Hall of Fame point guard has already made some changes. He is emphasizing communication and has given the players more freedom along with changing Kristaps Porzingis’ role.

Kidd is also extremely open with the media, including letting them view the end of a scrimmage on Friday afternoon. He was quick to share his starting five after the first day of practice where Luka Doncic and Porzingis will be joined by Dorian Finney-Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dwight Powell.

Announcing Powell as the starter at the five this early came as a bit of a surprise given the competition on the roster, but coach Kidd let fans know what he likes about him in the unit on Oct. 1. Let us take a closer look.

Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd loves that Dwight Powell does the little things

Kidd responded to a question about what makes Powell the starter heading into the season with this.

"Well, I think when you talk about Dwight, unselfish, it is always about the team. I love his energy. I would say his teammates love his energy. He’s unselfish. He’s a guy who does all the little things. You can label them as all the dirty things, or there are guys that don’t want to do the little things, so I think he fits perfectly with that starting group. I understand he’s coming off that injury. I think he’s past that mentally and physically, and he’s shown that coming into camp ready to go."

Powell does bring energy and effort that are contagious along with being an elite roll man. It is fantastic to hear that he looks healthy and back to 100 percent after struggling last season coming off Achilles surgery. The 30-year-old big man could be in for a career year as the starting center in Dallas.

Fans should be watching closely to see how Dwight Powell looks throughout the preseason. Achilles tears are devastating injuries that have ended several NBA careers. Players have fared better in recent years, and hopefully, DP is better than his pre-injury form. Mavericks fans want to see him throwing down lobs and making an impact on both ends of the floor.

The Dallas Mavericks have open practice on Sunday with their first preseason game taking place on Oct. 6. Things are heating up fast, so Dallas Mavericks fans should be sure to tune in to catch it all.