Mavericks news: Kidd wants to get Josh Green paid, Jaden Hardy scores 10, more

The Dallas Mavericks dominated the Phoenix Suns on Monday night as Luka Doncic dropped 33 points in just three quarters in the blowout win. Josh Green’s growth was on full display as he scored a quick ten points in the first quarter to push Dallas in front and they never looked back.

Head coach Jason Kidd was asked after the game where Green has made the most improvement. He let reporters know that he thought it happened last year before saying this.

"The truth is the kid is really good, and if he continues to keep working, he’s going to make a lot of money."

Kidd was reminded he made a similar proclamation about Jalen Brunson last season, and the head coach was quick to point out that JB did get paid in New York and he believes the same will happen for Green if he continues his improvement.

More Mavericks news

The Mavs have been searching for minutes for rookie Jaden Hardy after he averaged 29.0 points per game over his first nine in the G League. Monday’s blowout win opened up a few minutes for the second-round pick, and he scored ten points in just two minutes. See the highlights below.

Hardy is a bucket, but there are questions about his defense and playmaking. The Mavericks will play him more in the G League this season as they continue to search for opportunities to get him run. Hardy is proving that he certainly has talent, and the team just needs to develop it.

NBA news

Three star players returned from injuries on Monday night with James Harden playing 39 minutes in a double-overtime loss to his former team the Rockets. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both returned for the Clippers as Kawhi drilled the game-winner over the Hornets. It was fantastic to see all three back on the court.

The biggest off-the-court news was Nike ending its partnership with Kyrie Irving. Kyrie’s shoes are some of the most popular among NBA players, so it will be interesting to see how that impacts the shoe market and what players wear on the court moving forward.

The Dallas Mavericks get zero time to rest as they face the Denver Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back set on Tuesday. Can Luka Doncic and company pull the upset? Tune in to find out.