DALLAS — Marcus Sasser expects close to 300 family members and friends at American Airlines Center if he makes his Dallas Mavericks debut Friday against the Atlanta Hawks.
Mavericks coach Dusty May said after practice Thursday that he anticipates Sasser playing a little in the preseason finale.
Sasser missed Wednesday’s 101-97 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans with left adductor tightness and has not played in any of Dallas’ three preseason games. He said he slipped in practice and overstretched it.
Sasser does not have butterflies about the crowd. His family is excited to see him out there.
“It’s close to that. My family, they’re really excited to see me out there. I’m gonna have a good crowd out there for sure,” Sasser said. “No, man, it’s basketball. Playing in my hometown, it’s fun, if anything.”
Marcus Sasser Calls Playing For Dallas Mavericks A ‘Dream Come True’
Sasser was born in Dallas and played at Red Oak High School. Playing at home gives him an extra chip on his shoulder and another layer of confidence, with classmates and family in the crowd.
“It’s kind of like a dream come true, and it’s like you’re playing in your backyard. It gives you an extra chip on your shoulder, but you also got confidence because you got the people in the crowd that you went to school with, or you got your family, like I said,” Sasser said. “It gives you another extra layer of confidence and motivation, too.”
Growing up, Sasser did not have a favorite team. His father did.
“I was just NBA. I didn’t really have a favorite team, but my dad was always watching the Mavericks, for sure,” Sasser said.
Basketball runs through the family. Sasser’s uncle Jason Sasser coached him at Red Oak and played for the Mavericks in the 1990s, and another uncle, Jeryl Sasser, played at SMU before the Orlando Magic drafted him in the first round in 2001.
Jason was at a Mavericks practice a couple of weeks ago, on the sideline for the team he once played for.
“Yeah, it was crazy, man, to see him at my job. This is also where he played, and he also was my coach. He’s always been around when it comes to basketball,” Sasser said. “To see him here on the sideline with the same team he used to play for a couple years ago, it’s surreal, man.”
Sasser played four seasons at Houston, reaching the Final Four in 2021 and winning the Jerry West Award as a consensus All-American in 2022-23.
The Memphis Grizzlies drafted him 25th overall in 2023, and the Detroit Pistons acquired his rights on draft night. Dallas acquired him from Detroit on July 8 in a six-team trade.
In his final season in Detroit, Sasser averaged 5.2 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 38 games, playing 12.0 minutes per game. He made 41.5% of his 3-point attempts and 83.3% of his free throws.
Sasser Likes His Fit With Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
Sasser wants Mavericks fans to see the intensity and energy he brings, both defensively and in pushing the pace. He thinks he fits with the pieces Dallas has.
“Just the intensity I bring, the energy, the dog mentality. On the defensive side, changing the game, pushing the pace, and being able to space the floor, playmake,” Sasser said. “Just being me, I feel like I’m a good fit with the pieces that we have.”
Sasser loves the roster. The Mavericks are fast and long, in his view, with players who have each other’s backs.
“I love our team. I feel like we got a lot of guys that play for one another, always got each other back. We fast, long,” Sasser said. “I feel like we just got a lot of right pieces that fit together, and we’re gonna continue to build our chemistry as the season go. I think we’re gonna be really well.”
Sasser faced Cooper Flagg last season with Detroit, when Flagg won NBA Rookie of the Year. It is hard for Sasser to believe how young Flagg is.
“He’s amazing, man. It’s hard to believe he’s that young, man. The way he’s so unselfish, he knows the game,” Sasser said. “His leadership, so he makes the game easier for everybody on the floor.”
The Mavericks attempted 49 3-pointers Wednesday. Sasser said the volume fits him because shooting threes opens up an offense.
“Just playing fast, getting shots up,” Sasser said. “It just opens up your offense a lot, so I feel like it fits right into my game for real.”
Sasser sees Friday as a tune-up against a playoff team with defensive guards.
“I feel like it’s a good little tune-up game. They got a lot of defensive guards, so it’ll be good for us offensively to get our sets in and play against that type of pressure,” Sasser said. “They’re a playoff team as well, so I feel like it’s going to be a good tune-up for us.”
Tip-off against the Hawks is set for 7 p.m. CT Friday at American Airlines Center. Dallas opens the regular season Oct. 21 at the Houston Rockets, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
