archiveDallas Hoops Journal

DHJ Quick Take: The Dallas Double The Challenge: Shortly after the NBA announcement, Paige Bueckers—the reigning 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year—sent a Gatorade voice message to Cooper Flagg. Highlighting their status as the city's newest cornerstones, she challenged the Mavericks star: "Let's see who gets that ring for Dallas...

DHJ Quick Take: The 2026 Outlook The Blueprint: General Manager Curt Miller and Head Coach Jose Fernandez will outline the vision for a roster that now features the last two No. 1 overall picks. Overseas Absences: While the excitement is centered in Arlington, the team is still awaiting the arrival...

DHJ Quick Take: The Aziaha James Leap The Unrivaled Foundation: After spending her rookie season in a developmental role, Aziaha James arrived at camp in "tip-top shape" following her stint with Phantom BC in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league. Coach Jose Fernandez noted that her conditioning and pace have set her...

DHJ Quick Take: The Veteran Crossroads The Timeline Clash: When Klay Thompson signed a 3-year, $50 million contract with Dallas in 2024, it was to play alongside Luka Dončić. Following the blockbuster Anthony Davis-Dončić swap, Dallas has shifted focus to Cooper Flagg. At 37, Thompson’s efficiency (38.3% from 3) is...

DHJ Quick Take: Alanna Smith is Back The Transition Catalyst: The most significant takeaway from Alanna Smith's first practice is the "grab-and-go" capability she adds to the transition game. By starting the break herself off the glass, Smith forces opposing bigs to defend in space and allows Paige Bueckers and...

DHJ Quick Take: The Defensive Focus The Unrivaled Carryover: The most practical takeaway from the first week of camp is Paige Bueckers' conditioning. She noted that the constant isolation reps and lack of "off possessions" in Unrivaled prepared her for the defensive workload that Jose Fernandez requires. Backcourt Balance with...

DHJ Quick Take: The Day 6 Notebook The Bueckers-Fudd Synergy: A takeaway from Friday was seeing Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd share the floor in the same 5-on-5 unit. Their "read-and-react" chemistry was on full display during a pick-and-roll sequence where Bueckers found Fudd for a mid-range pull-up after a...

DHJ Quick Take: The System Shift The European Influence: Head coach Jose Fernandez is moving the Wings away from isolation-heavy sets toward a "European-style" approach centered on ball movement and misdirection. As Curt Miller noted, the goal is to keep the defense in constant rotation. Unlocking Bueckers Off-Ball: By utilizing...

DHJ Quick Take: Early Dallas Wings Rotation Projections The "Big 5" Identity: Curt Miller's starting lineup of Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Azzi Fudd, Jessica Shepard, and Alanna Smith is viewed as a tactical "home run." By pairing three perimeter threats with a "Point Forward" in Shepard and a co-Defensive Player...

DHJ Quick Take: The Defensive X-Factor The Immigration Bottleneck: While the rest of the "Top 8" arrivals are scheduled through Monday, Awak Kuier remains in a holding pattern. As Curt Miller noted, the process is complex and involves a layered collaboration between the league and legal counsel. For Jose Fernandez,...