Reflexes
- Texas basketball talent on the rise, led by Dallas Mavericks and young stars
- San Antonio and Houston are emerging contenders in the NBA, each with elite young players.
- The success of Texas teams could change the focus of showcasing elite basketball talent.
Is there a new change ready to happen in the NBA? For years, it’s been an interesting debate to figure out which region is the hotbed of basketball talent. The NBA was dominated by California: between the Shaq & Kobe Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors dynasty, and the “Lob City” LA Clippers, there were many talented players and teams representing the West Coast. However, with the rise of the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks, it appears that Texas is now aiming for the unofficial crown.
To the surprise of many, the Mavericks are on their way to the NBA Finals. Led by the legendary duo of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, the city of Dallas is excited about the possibility of capturing the franchise’s second title.
Aside from them, Houston and San Antonio have a bright future with promising young stars. It appears that from high school to the professional level, Texas has many elite talents representing the state. With Luka and the Mavericks on the verge of greatness, the narrative is starting to change.
The dawn of a new era?
Texas basketball excels at every level.
It’s interesting when a particular city or region becomes a hot spot for showcasing elite talent. California and New York have been commodities for many years, but Texas has been slowly entering those ranks. Notable Texans in the NBA include Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Miami’s Jimmy Butler and New York’s Julius Randle.
If you extend it to college teams like Houston, Texas and Baylor, there are a wide variety of impactful players representing the state. These three university programs have a track record of success at the next level, especially over the last 10 to 15 years.
In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Dallas has been boosted by the presence of recent acquisition PJ Washington, who spent time growing up in the Dallas area. Washington winning a title would do wonders for younger viewers who dream of growing up in Texas and performing in front of home fans in the NBA. Washington has been one of Dallas’ unsung heroes throughout the postseason. He has a chance to go to “cult” status if the Mavericks can reach their ultimate goal.
The Spurs and Rockets have tremendous prospects
Both could compete for the 2025 playoffs
As impressive as it is for Dallas to be ahead of schedule as a potential Finals team, division rivals San Antonio and Houston are also knocking on the door of success. The Spurs, led by highly touted 2024 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, are a major step away from jumping onto the playoff scene as soon as next season.
Wembanyama is already so influential on both sides of the court that a complete roster overhaul is not necessary to field a competitive team in the near future. His mere presence will attract players from all stages of his career to join him in pursuit of glory. Although they come from another country, players like him and Luka draw a lot of attention to Texas in general: more resources are directed towards young talent at the grassroots level, and that can create local stars (like Tyrese Maxey).
Houston, on the other hand, came in very strong to close the 2023-24 season. If not for key injuries late in the year, they could have earned a spot in the Play-In tournament. Center Alperen Sengun may not have the same skills as Wembanyama, but his importance as a playmaker and scorer is valued in Houston. Dallas’ veteran team has proven beneficial so far during their playoff run, but don’t count out the rest of the division’s upstarts as well.
However, the entire Texas region will rightly receive a tremendous boost if the Mavs achieve a championship in 2024, especially since they were not highlighted as a Finals contender before the regular season or postseason. No matter what particular area they reside in, Texans have the right to rejoice in their current and future status as a basketball hotbed. A place where legends are created, each franchise will eventually spark the imagination of the next big up-and-comer. Another NBA title in Dallas, Houston or San Antonio could put them in the lead in any territory for a while.
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