Tarik Biberovic faces a glaring question entering his Mavericks rookie year

The Dallas Mavericks' rookie class is stacked for the second year in a row. Dallas' first-round picks, Sergio De Larrea and Morez Johnson Jr., headline this class, but Mavs fans can't forget about Tarik Biberovic either. He was one of the best shooters in the EuroLeague before signing with the Mavs this offseason, and even with his incredible long-range shooting, he has been slept on.

Biberovic's path to Dallas was unique

The Mavericks acquired Biberovic in the Santi Aldama trade earlier this summer, but this addition has flown a bit under the radar for multiple reasons. First, Biberovic has never played in an NBA game since being drafted in 2023. He has played in Europe since being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies three years ago, and Mavs fans may not have realized he still classifies as a rookie.

They have also made several other big moves, such as trading for Zaccharie Risacher and drafting Johnson Jr. These moves have been what many fans are talking about, but the decision to trade for Biberovic's draft rights before signing him to a two-year deal could be much more important than anyone expected.

Can Biberovic continue his overseas success in the NBA?

Dallas needed more 3-point shooting after finishing as one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA last season, and this is exactly what Biberovic brings. He shot 48.9 percent from beyond the arc for Fenerbahçe in the BSL last season, but a major question remains.

Can these elite shooting numbers continue at the NBA level? If they do, it'll be impossible for Dusty May to keep him off the floor. If not, he could find himself without a consistent role during his rookie season.

Some sharpshooters coming to the NBA from Europe struggle to replicate the success that they had overseas, and Biberovic could fall into this category if he has a slow start.

Biberovic doesn't have an easy path to minutes

The Mavericks being deep on the wing is an understatement. 12 of their 18 players are in between 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-9, and Biberovic is going to have an uphill battle to earn a spot in the rotation. He will have to beat out multiple of Dallas' other fringe-rotation wings such as John Poulakidas, Jett Howard, and Caleb Martin to receive playing time, and with shooting being his specialty, his shot falling or not is what will likely determine how much he plays.

If Biberovic continues to be an efficient 3-point shooter on high volume, he'll have no problem paving the way to a role in Dallas. The Mavericks shot under 35 percent from three last season and only shot 31.9 3-pointers per game. Both of these numbers ranked in the bottom five of the NBA.

Biberovic was a spectacular shooter in Europe

Biberovic's willingness to let it fly from long range will help the Mavericks get their volume up, and his ability to drain threes off the catch will help them get their percentage up if he builds upon the momentum he started in Europe.

He is a career 42.3 percent 3-point shooter since he joined Fenerbahçe in the 2018-19 season. This includes four seasons of shooting above 45 percent from three.

He is the definition of a 3-point marksman, and Mavs fans will be hoping that his success continues in the NBA. Biberovic's high release point, unique shooting motion, and ability to hit movement threes put him in a great position to become one of Dallas' best shooters, but this isn't a guarantee just yet.

He has to earn a role in May's rotation, and his early effectiveness as a shooter could be what determines whether he will get such a role.

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