The Dallas Mavericks are heading west for a preseason debut at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena, marking the franchise’s first-ever game at the venue.
The Mavericks announced the preseason schedule and will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, October 6, in a matchup that opens both their preseason and a new chapter with North Texas hoops fans.
Tipoff for this game is set for 7:30 p.m. at the 14,000-seat Dickies Arena, where fans are encouraged to arrive early for festivities that celebrate Fort Worth’s western heritage, including a “Pregame Roundup” party and commemorative bandanas for the first 5,000 through the doors, according to a Dickies Arena news release.
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts said in the release that this matchup is the “perfect opportunity to engage” basketball fans from across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
“This partnership with our neighbor city reinforces our commitment to bringing exciting Mavericks basketball to the entire North Texas community,” he added.
Similarly, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker applauded the decision to bring NBA basketball to Cowtown, saying the city is “thrilled to welcome the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder to Dickies Arena for this headline preseason matchup.”
“Fort Worth continues to shine as a premier destination for world-class sports and culture — from professional rodeo and NCAA championships to now NBA basketball. We look forward to the excitement, energy, and visitors this game will bring to our vibrant city,” she wrote.
In addition to this matchup, the Mavericks have announced other training camp and preseason schedule information, with the team set to begin the preseason with training camp in Vancouver, Canada, from September 30 to October 4 at Simon Fraser University.
Dallas will then take on the Thunder in Fort Worth before traveling back to American Airlines Center for a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on October 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Finally, Dallas will finish the preseason with two matchups against the Utah Jazz on October 13 in Salt Lake City and the Los Angeles Lakers on October 15 in Las Vegas.
Headlining the Mavericks roster is No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who is expected to make his first on-court appearance with the team alongside veterans that include Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson.
While guard Kyrie Irving remains sidelined with a torn ACL to start the season, Flagg’s debut at Dickies Arena is expected to draw massive attention as one of the most hyped draft selections in recent memory.
Although the Mavericks have yet to announce any information on the team’s regular season schedule, these preseason matchups will provide an early glimpse into the potential of this team heading into the 2025-26 season.