6 Unexpected X-factors for the Dallas Mavericks' 2024-25 season

5. Dante Exum

For 29-year-old Dante Exum, he faces pressure as a guard with many guards on the Mavs roster. Last season, Exum played exceptionally well as a backup guard to Kyrie Irving.

Exum averaged 7.8 points per game and shot 53 percent from the field, and a very impressive 49 percent from three. But, Exum couldn't maintain success in the 2024 NBA Playoffs for Dallas. Exum averaged just two points per game, and his shooting percentages dropped significantly.

But, 2024-25 will be his second season in Dallas with Jason Kidd as head coach. And, Kidd needs to play Exum more to determine if he will have a future in Dallas.

Exum's contract runs out after 2025, and he will be an unrestricted free agent. A make-or-break season will happen one way or another for Exum with him being due for a contract. With Spencer Dinwiddie on the Mavs roster, it adds more pressure on Exum as he could be trade bait, especially with an expiring contract.

If Exum wants to remain in Dallas, he needs a good season coming off the bench, and he can be an x-factor the Mavs need. Exum showed last season he's capable of doing it with shooting the three, but his confidence dropped during the playoffs.

3-point shooting is always needed in today's NBA, and Exum has his chance to be the first player off the bench to substitute Luka Doncic, Klay Thompson, or Irving to shoot the three. All three of them are deadly shooters from three.