Mark Cuban's worrisome statement on how Mavericks can be successful this season

Mark Cuban isn't exactly inspiring fans with this statement.

Jan 24, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after the game against the Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks are entering a unique season in franchise history. They believe they have NBA championship aspirations, but Kyrie Irving is going to be out for the first half of the season as he recovers from ACL surgery. That means they're going to be awfully reliant on Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg early.

Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban was on the "DLLS Mavs" show on Tuesday where he revealed what they key to success for this team will be.

"I literally think our season will go as well as [Dereck Lively II] and AD shooting 3s," Cuban said.

Clip of Cuban saying “I literally think our season will go as well as D Live and AD shooting 3s.”

🎥@DLLS_Mavs https://t.co/QZsnuaL0oa pic.twitter.com/5oB8RVPzVI

— Mavs Film Room 🐴🎥 (@MavsFilmRoom) August 26, 2025

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There have been rumors of Dereck Lively II being able to shoot threes since he was drafted, but he hasn't had that chance yet. He has made all of one three-pointer in his NBA career, and it was in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. In the regular season, he's all of 0/2.

Free-throw shooting is often a good indicator of future three-point shooting, and Lively increased his shooting at the charity stripe from 50.6% as a rookie to 63% in his second season. You'd like to see it go up further before they really unleash his three-point shooting, but it is a tantalizing tool if they can use it efficiently.

Apr 18, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) handles the ball during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Can Anthony Davis Develop Into a Decent Three-Point Shooter?

Anthony Davis is entering the 14th season of his career. He has never been an above average three-point shooter. In fact, he's only shot above 30% four times, one of those being the year he won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers (33.0%).

The Mavericks currently don't have a lot of three-point shooting. Klay Thompson is still an elite shooter at this stage in his career, but that's kind of it. Cooper Flagg was a great shooter in college but it remains a point of contention whether or not that'll stick in the NBA. D'Angelo Russell is coming off the worst shooting season of his career, Naji Marshall had a shaky shooting season, and P.J. Washington is still growing as a shooter.

If the season is going to rely on Lively and Davis being respectable three-point shooters, the season will likely not go well.

READ MORE: Lakers fans shouldn't get their hopes up on signing of former Mavericks 7-footer

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