The past four seasons have been a rollercoaster for the Mavs 😬

If you’re a Dallas Mavericks fan, the last four seasons have felt like a whirlwind of hope, heartbreak, and head-scratching decisions. From Luka Dončić’s rise to superstardom to sudden roster overhauls and playoff disappointments, it’s been a wild ride filled with highs that hinted at a championship future—and lows that made you wonder what the front office was thinking. Let’s break down the chaos.

The 2020-2021 season kicked off with plenty of optimism. Luka was already proving himself as one of the league’s best young talents, and Dallas looked poised to make a real playoff run. But the team struggled with consistency all season. Despite Luka’s brilliance, the roster around him lacked the depth and defensive identity needed to contend in the loaded Western Conference. They ended up facing the Clippers in the first round for the second straight year—and again, it was a gut-wrenching exit. Luka dropped historic numbers, but it wasn’t enough. Fans were already calling for help.

Then came the 2021-2022 season, and for a while, things clicked. The hiring of Jason Kidd raised eyebrows, but it turned out to be a solid move. The team bought in defensively, and Jalen Brunson stepped up in a big way. They made a run all the way to the Western Conference Finals, shocking the Suns with a blowout Game 7 win in Phoenix. Luka looked like the next face of the league, and for the first time in a while, it felt like Dallas had found the formula.

But the momentum didn’t last.

In the 2022-2023 season, the front office made the bold move to trade for Kyrie Irving. It was a risky swing, bringing in a superstar with a lot of baggage to pair with Luka. On paper, it was a dream backcourt—two elite shot-creators who could torch any defense. But the chemistry wasn’t there right away, the defense completely fell apart, and the Mavs went from Western Conference Finalists to missing the playoffs entirely. That collapse stung. It also raised serious questions: Could Luka and Kyrie coexist? Was this the right long-term vision? And where was the help on defense?

Fast forward to the 2023-2024 season, and the rollercoaster continued. The Mavs doubled down, re-signing Kyrie and adding Grant Williams and Dereck Lively II, hoping to address their glaring issues. There were moments where things looked promising—Luka continued to dominate, Kyrie had stretches where he looked locked in, and the team hovered around the top half of the West. But again, inconsistency plagued them. Injuries, questionable rotations, and late-game collapses became a pattern. They made the playoffs, but bowed out earlier than expected, with Luka visibly frustrated on the sidelines.

Now in 2024-2025, the Mavs are once again under the microscope. Luka is still just 26, already a perennial MVP candidate, but the clock is ticking. He needs a real contender around him, not just flashy moves and temporary fixes. The front office faces enormous pressure to get this right. With the West only getting stronger, they can’t afford another season of “almosts.”

The past four years have shown us that having a generational talent isn’t enough. Building a championship team requires cohesion, defense, depth, and a clear identity—things Dallas has struggled to maintain. There have been moments of brilliance, no doubt. But there’s also been mismanagement, missed opportunities, and a sense that the Mavs are always reacting, rather than planning.

Still, hope isn’t lost. Luka is that special. If the organization can finally build a balanced, sustainable roster around him—and if Kyrie can fully buy in—there’s still a window for something great. But after four chaotic, emotional seasons, fans are done with excuses. They want results.

And honestly? So does Luka.