With P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Spencer Dinwiddie, Caleb Martin, and Max Christie, six players from the Dallas Mavericks faced exit interviews after a turbulent season. Open, reflective, and at times very emotional.
P.J. Washington summed it up right at the start: “Just the injuries… I feel like everyone who played in the Finals last year was injured at some point this season.” The 26-year-old emphasized that without this injury misfortune, the season would probably have been very different.
Center Daniel Gafford, who said he struggled mentally with his injury, felt similarly. “I could have fallen apart, but I stuck with it. I went through rehab and just wanted to come back. As strong as I could.”
Lively: “You have to fail to succeed.”
For Dereck Lively II, the experience was part of a larger development process: “You can’t be successful all the time without failing.” The challenge of fighting their way back from the bottom to the top as a team has the potential to help the Mavericks in the long run.
Lively responded diplomatically to reports of disagreements among the medical staff regarding his ankle injury: “We made decisions together. Everyone had their opinion, but in the end we stood together.”
Christie on fan criticism: “It takes time and wins.”
Max Christie addressed the disappointment of many fans and spoke about the loss of trust the organization has experienced. “Something like that doesn’t go away overnight. It will take time, but wins can help heal the wounds.”
Caleb Martin: Adjusting after midseason trade was tough
For Caleb Martin, who came over from Miami during the season, settling in wasn’t easy: “It was my first midseason trade experience, and it was tougher than I thought it would be.” Nevertheless, he praised the Mavericks organization for the warm welcome and support he received as he returned to full fitness.
Martin also didn’t shy away from the emotional aspect of changing teams: “I made lifelong friends in Miami. Breaking those connections feels like a breakup. That’s something you often forget when you’re on the outside.”
Dinwiddie remains grateful despite difficult role
Spencer Dinwiddie looked back on a season with many role changes: sometimes a starter, sometimes a bench player, sometimes even without any playing time at all. Despite the uncertainties, he remained positive: “I made the best of the cards I was dealt and am grateful that I was able to play for Dallas again.”
