Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington support young Mavericks during Summer League opener in Las Vegas

The Dallas Mavericks Summer League debut at Las Vegas was not only regarding rookies playing on the court. Such veterans as Kyrie Irving , P.J. Washington , and Naji Marshall could be seen on the sidelines cheering their younger teammates. They came with an equilibrium of age and youth. With the rookies out to create a name for themselves and key players out recovering their injuries, it was a form of solidarity and concentration throughout the night.
Veteran leadership meets rookie ambition as Irving, Washington, and Marshall guide Mavericks’ youth in VegasAccording to Mavs beat writer Mike Curtis on X, the spotlight was on Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Max Christie , Jaden Hardy , and Olivier-Maxence Prosper , who showed up at the Mavericks’ Summer League opener in Las Vegas. Their presence represented a blend of seasoned players and fresh talent: veterans recovering from injuries and rookies looking to make their mark in Dallas’s shifting lineup.

Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Naji Marshall, Max Christie, Jaden Hardy and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are in attendance for the Mavs' summer league opener.

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) July 11, 2025

The younger crew took center stage: Max Christie (2024 second-round pick), Jaden Hardy (37th pick in 2022), and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (24th pick in 2023) all had a chance to impress under the keen eyes of scouts. Christie, who recently joined from the Lakers in a February 2025 trade, and Hardy—renowned for his scoring ability—seized the Summer League opportunity to demonstrate their worth. Prosper, who was recovering from right wrist surgery in March 2025, was also on the sidelines—working to regain his rhythm after 52 games and an average of 3.9 points per game last season.

Since July 2024, Naji Marshall has been on a three-year contract with Dallas, and he's now providing competitive oversight from the sidelines. With the depth in Dorado taken into account, his role emphasizes Dallas's intention to enhance rotation opportunities and encourage internal competition. Coupled with veteran mentorship, this snapshot from the Summer League illustrates a strategic off-season plan: integrating development, rehab motivation, and roster evaluation seamlessly.

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Rookies Max Christie and Jaden Hardy and Olivier-Maxence Prosper eagerly seized the opportunity to show. They displayed an incredible combination of leadership, development and competitive zeal together and they left an optimistic environment around the Dallas 2025-26 year.