DALLAS — P.J. Washington has been to the playoffs once in seven NBA seasons. After practice Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks forward said whether he starts this season matters less to him than getting back there.
Since Dallas acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets in February 2024, Washington has started 137 of the 142 regular-season games he has played. Mavericks coach Dusty May said Thursday that Washington is in the mix for a starting spot, mostly because he can play multiple positions.
Washington has been on a lot of losing teams, he said, and he wants to turn that around.
“For me, my biggest thing is winning. Whether I’m starting or not, I just want to win,” Washington said. “I’ve been on so many losing teams. I’ve been to the playoffs one time in my career. So for me, I just want to turn that around and get to the playoffs and just win. I think that’s my biggest thing. So I feel like if I’m starting or not, I can make an impact on the floor whenever I’m out there.”
Charlotte reached the play-in tournament in 2021 and 2022 during Washington’s time there and lost both times. Dallas lost in the play-in in 2025 and finished 26-56 last season. His only postseason came in 2024, when he started all 22 of the Mavericks’ playoff games on the way to the NBA Finals and averaged 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Four practices into camp, May said he cannot see Dallas settling on a starting five anytime soon. On Thursday, May said he has not studied who started for the Mavericks last season or the season before.
“I think as coaches, we have a couple different lineups penciled in,” May said. “But obviously, as we’ve learned and are learning, … there’s a lot of inconsistency in the lineup over a number of days based on back-to-backs and injuries. In this rotation, what would this look like versus what would this group look like together? So I haven’t thought of it.”
“I haven’t really studied who has and hasn’t started last year or the year before, because to me that’s so irrelevant anyway. Personally, if I could play five more minutes and not hear my name called, I’d rather play those five extra minutes,” May continued. “Or if I could finish a game versus have my name called and start a lineup, I’d rather finish the game as well. So hopefully we have the mindset that whatever the team needs. But P.J. is certainly in the mix for a starting spot, mostly because he can play multiple positions.”
Dusty May On P.J. Washington’s Voice And Versatility
May said Sunday that Washington’s voice is needed. At media day, Washington said May wants him to be more of a leader and to lead with his voice. Washington can play the three in a bigger lineup and the five in a small one, according to May.
“P.J., we’ve gotten a little bit of everything out of P.J. He’s someone that I think can check a lot of boxes,” May explained. “If you wanna play a small lineup, you can play the five. He can play the three for the bigger lineup. But we need his physicality. We need his basketball instincts. He’s a quick thinker. Defensively, he knows what to do at all times. We’ve gotta get him to use his voice a little bit more to share his knowledge with the group, and he’s gonna help us.”
Washington is entering his eighth NBA season. Being vocal off the floor as well as on it is part of the job for him now.
“It’s been good. I mean, for me, I think obviously I’m at the point in my career where I’m a vet now. So my voice means a lot more now,” Washington explained. “So for me, I think it’s going to be my biggest transition during the year, is making sure I’m … off the floor and on the floor for the guys, and just being vocal doing it.”
On Sunday, May listed Washington’s wingspan, toughness, and physicality, along with his ability to punish mismatches inside and outside. Dallas needs as much offensive and defensive versatility as it can get, May said then.
Some lineups this season will need whoever draws the lesser defender to bring the ball up. Washington is a candidate to do it as a point forward, depending on who is guarding him.
“He shot the ball well in live play,” May said. “He’s making good decisions on and off the ball. And then there’s gonna be lineups with whoever has the lesser defenders that have to bring it up. And P.J. certainly in that mix.”
“A guy that can play the point forward, and it’s all dependent on who’s guarding him and the matchups in that game,” May added. “So, playing as many teams as we play, and as big as the league is, you’re gonna see so many different things. And so you gotta have that optionality.”
Basketball Reference lists Washington as a power forward and center. In 2021-22, his third season in Charlotte, he was listed at center and made 28 starts in 65 games. Washington wants to be good at everything.
“Versatility. For me, being able to guard perimeter guys, being able to guard big guys. And then offensively, being able to play in a pick-and-roll as a screener, as a ball handler, and just playing different mismatches,” Washington said. “So, for me, my biggest thing is I want to be good at everything. So, I feel like in my workouts I should try to do, whether that’s finishing, shooting, playmaking.”
“… So, for me, it’s just trying to work on each and every aspect of my game so I can be on the floor. If the bigs are hurt, I can play five,” Washington continued. “When we’re short on guards, I can bring it up. So for me, just being versatile.”
May said Washington is a good passer.
“He’s done things every day that impress [me]. Like I said, his basketball IQ, he’s a winning player,” May said. “I mean, he fights for his teammates, he has their backs. He’s a good passer. Like I said, he’s a quick thinker. So yeah, we’re excited about P.J. Like I said, he checks a lot of boxes as well.”
P.J. Washington On His Health And His 3-Point Shot
Washington was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and played two seasons at Kentucky. Charlotte took him 12th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, and he made the All-Rookie team in 2019-20. Over 446 career games, he has averaged 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Over the last two seasons, Washington has missed 51 games. He played 57 in 2024-25 and 56 last season, when he missed time late in the year with an illness and left elbow soreness. At media day, Washington said the weight room was the biggest thing he wanted to focus on this summer.
“For me, just my biggest emphasis is making sure I’m doing everything, making sure my body’s right each and every day, make sure I come in here at 100% health, and just doing all the little things,” Washington said. “I think for me, the weight room has been very beneficial for me. Try to do something each and every day, and I think that’ll take me a long way.”
In 2024-25, Washington averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists and shot 38.1% from three on 91-of-239. Last season, he averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 56 games, with 53 starts. His 3-point shooting fell to 32.5% on 76-of-234, below his career mark of 35.4%.
His shot was one of three things Washington worked on beyond his health.
“My shot mechanics, being able to playmake a little better, and just trying to get a good rhythm in the offense and finding my niche, I would say,” Washington said.
On Thursday, Washington worked on his pull-up. His biggest thing with the shot is staying upright and getting the ball out the same way every time.
“I think it’s great for me and great for the team. If I can hit the three-ball at a consistent rate, it opens the floor for a lot of us,” Washington said. “The team’s got to guard me out there. Obviously, I’m going to have more driving lanes and more ways to create for others. For me, my biggest thing is just trying to stay upright and get the ball out the same way every single time.”
Washington signed a four-year, $90 million extension with Dallas in September 2025. It begins this season and runs through 2029-30.
Cooper Flagg won Rookie of the Year last season after averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 games. May said Sunday that he would like to have 15 players with Washington’s size, versatility, length, skill, toughness, and IQ when discussing the forward’s fit with Flagg. The Mavericks are playing off Flagg in camp, according to Washington.
“It’s been great. I think for him, he’s been doing a great job of just being himself, and we’re kind of playing off of him,” Washington said. “So he’s able to make plays. He’s able to take his shots. He’s able to be versatile on both ends of the floor, and we’re kind of just piggybacking, or just helping him find ways to be himself.”
Kyrie Irving returned without restrictions 18 months after tearing the ACL in his left knee. Washington and Irving played together for a season and a half before Irving’s injury in March 2025. Irving makes it easier for everybody else, Washington said.
“It’s been great. I love playing with Kyrie. He brings so much attention,” Washington said. “He makes it so much easier for everybody else. His gravity is one of a kind, and I can’t wait for him to be on the floor with everybody and obviously everybody to be healthy. That’s my biggest thing, and I’m just ready to have some fun.”
Morez Johnson Jr., the ninth overall pick in June, has been limited in camp by lower leg soreness. Johnson is in early every day trying to get better, according to Washington.
“He’s a dog. I mean, he’s a bully out there. He’s strong. He knows what we want to do each and every possession. He talks on both ends, and he’s willing to learn,” Washington said. “He’s in here every day early trying to get better. And, I mean, you love guys like that, especially when they’re young. You know they’re going to have a bright future.”
Santi Aldama and Sergio de Larrea play together for Spain. Washington has not learned any new words from them yet.
“They’ve kind of been stingy. Serge and Santi, they’ve been speaking Spanish just to themselves,” Washington said. “So I’m going to pick their brain a little bit during the season.”
Dallas opens the preseason against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 9 at 7 a.m. CT at The Venetian Arena in Macao, and the teams play there again Oct. 11. Washington went to Shanghai and Hangzhou this summer. Playing in front of that crowd will be a blessing, he said.
“I just want to get through the flight, to be honest with you. Obviously, it’s going to be a whole different culture. I’m excited to see and interact with the people out there,” Washington said. “Obviously, playing in front of that crowd is going to be a blessing. And for me, just being thankful, just obviously being able to play that game that I love in different parts of the world and interacting with people. So I’m excited to see how they treat us out there, and they’re ready to have a good time.”
After Macao, Dallas closes the preseason at home against New Orleans on Oct. 14 and Atlanta on Oct. 16. The regular season opens Oct. 21 at Houston, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m. CT.
