Yang Yi, the US said that if Davis stays healthy, the Mavericks will win the 2026 championship

According to US sports media F/W reporter Nico Martinez. Smith, known as Yang Yi in the United States, has high expectations for Dallas, but there is one exception. In the latest episode of First Take , the ESPN media star made a bold take on the upcoming season, claiming that the Mavericks will win the 2026 NBA championship if Davis and Irving stay healthy and at their best in the playoffs. “If Davis, if Irving is healthy and Davis brings his A game, Dallas will win the NBA championship,” Smith said. "It's a big assumption. It's reasonable, everyone knows." The

NBA community is still divided on the Mavericks' competition with other teams in the West, but Smith seems to be confident in their success. Stepping out of the infamous Doncic deal, the Mavericks have something to prove next season and they are determined to prove that their overall championship window is still very open.

Last season, they ranked 11th in the standings with only 39 wins and 43 losses, and were later defeated by the Grizzlies in the play-offs. There are many reasons why the Mavericks failed to meet expectations due to injuries, distractions and mid-season heavy deals, but there are reasons to think they are more capable of achieving success in the 2025-26 season.

As he said, Davis was the key to their victory. He will remain fully healthy and full on Opening Night, and if he can stay healthy for most of the season (and throughout the playoffs), he may be able to improve his game and make up for most of their lost by trading Luca. He's obviously locked in and committed to his new team, and he's ready to make it work and do things he'll never do with the Pelicans.

Davis averaged 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season and shot 51.6% from the field, indicating that he can still be the leader both on and off the court. Although he has limited playing time in Dallas, his performance is enough to feel the team and at least build some chemistry with new teammates. Aside from role players like Gafford, PJ Washington, Thompson and Hardy, Davis will have a lot of support, and his dominance in the interior will help open up space for everyone.

The only problem with the Mavericks' ambition is Irving. While he usually plays a big role on the offensive end, how much he actually plays in the upcoming season remains a mystery. He tore the ACL in March and has been recovering since then. It’s unclear whether/when can we expect him to return in 2025-26, but after averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists with a 47.3% field goal percentage last season, it’s hard for them to go further without him.

Ultimately, only time can tell whether the Mavericks are the real contender in the West. On paper, they have everything they need to be competitive, but that's the case when they have Doncic, who is now in the top three players in the world. Whatever Smith sees in this group, he must be special to choose them in so much uncertainty, but they will do their best to prove he is right and justify the significant risks they took months ago.