Sergio de Larrea debuted for the Dallas Mavericks with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists during a 135-117 pre-season defeat to the Houston Rockets in China. The Spanish player shot 4-for-6 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, across nearly 25 minutes of action. Selected 23 de junio de 2026 in the draft by Los Angeles Lakers, he was traded that same night to the Knicks in exchange for Cameron Carr and subsequently traded to Texas.
Global Pre-Season Opener in China
The matchup between the two Texas franchises took place overseas as part of the NBA’s international expansion efforts. With the regular season scheduled to tip off on October 20, both coaching staffs utilized the fixture to manage player workloads and evaluate rotation combinations rather than chase the result.
Houston controlled the tempo from the opening tip, establishing a 62-43 advantage by halftime and building a lead as large as 28 points. Ime Udoka’s side leaned heavily on a 20-point performance from Tari Eason and a triple-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists from Alperen Sengun. Kevin Durant added 15 points for the Rockets, while the team coasted through the second half with extensive substitutions.
De Larrea Makes Strong First Impression
Selected 25th overall in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft by Los Angeles Lakers before being traded to the New York Knicks and subsequently to Dallas, De Larrea answered questions regarding his immediate integration. General Manager Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz previously confirmed his participation for the 2026–27 campaign.
In his extended minutes, the Spanish prospect added one steal and four turnovers to his efficient shooting splits. Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 19 points and 6 rebounds in 32 minutes, converting 7 of 14 field goal attempts while struggling from long range with 1 of 5 shooting.
Roster Shifts and Coaching Changes in Dallas
The Mavericks enter the new campaign following a transformative period that included the February 2025 trade of Luka Doncic. Front office changes followed the move, and Jason Kidd was replaced as head coach by Dusty May, who transitioned to the NBA after leading the University of Michigan to an NCAA tournament title, with the roster also listing players such as Zaccharie Risacher, Morez Johnson Jr., Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Tarik Biberovic, Moussa Cisse, Daniel Gafford, Jett Howard, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Seth Lundy, Caleb Martin, John Poulakidas, Dwight Powell, Marcus Sasser, P.J. Washington, and Tobi Lawal.
Fellow Spaniard Santi Aldama did not feature for Dallas in the contest, leaving De Larrea as the primary focal point for international observers tracking Spanish talent in North America.
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