The Dallas Mavericks aren't at the very top of ESPN's list of teams expected to make a major leap during the 2026-27 season, but they're still getting some praise as a possible surprise. In ESPN's latest voting, Dallas landed tied for fourth with the Philadelphia 76ers, with 15 points. That's not overwhelming support, but it's enough to put the Mavericks among the teams that ESPN's panel believes could make a noticeable jump.
It beat out a lot of teams to get to that spot, too. Sports news: Wizards and AJ Dybantsa Could Have a Breakout Year What's extra cool is that Dallas is being mentioned alongside several teams with bigger expectations heading into the season. The Mavericks aren't being picked as the No. 1 surprise, but they aren't being overlooked, either.
ESPN's panel gave the most votes to the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz, who tied with 46 points apiece. The Washington Wizards followed with 20 points, while Dallas and Philadelphia each received 15. The Atlanta Hawks had 14, and the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers each received 10.
For Dallas, that fourth-place tie suggests there's at least some belief that the team could look different this season. The broader theme of ESPN's forecast is easy to see: Several teams that spent last season near the bottom of the standings now have a chance to make a serious move. Dallas is part of that group, even without receiving the same level of confidence as Indiana or Utah.
That makes the Mavericks a real team to watch. More sports: Pistons Hit With Troubling 2026 Projection, But There’s Hope A 15-point showing in a panel vote doesn't exactly scream "future championship favorite," but that's also not what this particular ranking is about. It's about identifying the teams that could surprise people by taking a significant step forward.
Now, the Mavericks have to prove the panel wasn't giving them too much credit.
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