The Dallas Mavericks are in one of their best forms in franchise history heading into the 2024-25 season.
The Mavericks were founded in 1980, but they've only won one championship. Dallas has reached the NBA Finals three times though, with their most recent trip being last year.
The Mavericks stormed through the Western Conference in the playoffs as they took down the LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves as the No. 5 seed, and later battled the Boston Celtics.
Dallas' luck finally ran out when they played the Celtics in the Finals as they lost in five games, and Jayson Tatum recently made this Finals loss feel even worse for Mavericks fans.
Tatum doubted the Mavericks from the start
According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Tatum knew the Celtics were going to win the series before it even started, and Boston was much more worried about a different Western Conference contender. When asked about when Tatum knew he was going to win the Finals, here's what Tatum had to say:
"When Minnesota beat Denver," Tatum said. "I felt like Denver was the only team that they matched up best with us."
Like most people, Tatum didn't expect that the Mavs would be in the Finals. They were the No. 5 seed, and nearly the entire team didn't have any playoff experience together. Dallas shocked everyone, and Tatum knew that the series was ultimately over after the Mavs went down 0-3 since no team has ever come back from that hole.
Tatum knowing Boston was going to win the series after being up 3-0 shouldn't be a shock to anyone, but his serious doubt for the Mavs' capabilities should motivate them going into next season. That NBA Finals series could have started a mini rivalry considering all of the different storylines coming from both sides, and Tatum's comments definitely intensified this rivalry.
Celtics fans already despise Kyrie Irving, and some Mavs fans still aren't fond of Kristaps Porzingis since his time in Dallas was so underwhelming. Both players still have some bad blood with the opposing fanbase, but that's not the only thing stirring the pot in the early stages of the Mavs' rivalry with the Celtics.
Dereck Lively II jokingly threw a subtle jab at Tatum during the Mavs' schedule release video, and Dallas' two matchups against the Celtics can't come soon enough.
The Mavs were already going to want to get revenge on the Celtics before Tatum made the underwhelming comment about the Mavs, and every player on that roster is going to have a chip on their shoulder going into their January 25 game against Boston.
Losing the NBA Finals isn't easy for anyone, and Tatum's brutally honest statement about how they knew they would beat the Mavs before the series even started makes this loss hurt even more for Mavs fans.
Dallas will be in the hunt for an NBA Finals win this season, and the biggest team standing in their way of doing that looks to be the Celtics. The Thunder and Timberwolves will both be a tough out in the West, but Boston is the overwhelming favorite with Tatum driving the ship.
Tatum overlooked the Mavs, and it worked in Boston's favor.
Dallas will be looking to make him regret this take later this season.
