By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Dallas Mavericks are assessing the exact arrival timeline for Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea, with general manager Mike Schmitz confirming the franchise remains undecided on whether the playmaker reports for the 2026–27 season or remains overseas for an extra year.
“We’re still working through all of that with Sergio,” he stated regarding the Valladolid native’s availability for the upcoming Summer League. “With Sergio, a big guard, 6-6, 6-7, really high basketball IQ, he shoots the ball well, can handle, and can pass. To have that level of productivity and comfort at age 20 at one of the best programs in the world is really attractive to us.”
The Mavs acquired his draft rights from the New York Knicks, who selected him 25th overall before trading the pick. Just hours after his selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm, de Larrea concluded his 2025–26 campaign with Valencia on Wednesday evening, securing the Liga Endesa title. Mavericks staffers were following the championship-clinching win.
“We were hunkered down in the theater and watched the whole thing together, and he played his role, and he did a great job in a big win, and we spoke to him briefly after,” Schmitz said. “He’s doing a great job this season and has a lot to be proud of. He’s super excited and very excited about the opportunity, the organization. He’s actually been a Mavs fan at different points of his life growing up, so he shared some of those stories and how thankful he is to be part of the organization.”
Schmitz acknowledged the impending transition for the reigning ACB Best Young Player. “I think any time you go from the EuroLeague or ACB to the NBA, obviously that level of athleticism and length and high-level defenders getting into the ball and some of the best players in the world, you raise to that level and you need to adjust,” he noted. “That’s something he’s done at every stage of his career.”
“I think we’ve gotten bigger across all these different types of players. We added more positional size, we got tougher and added some IQ as well, and Sergio is a huge part of that,” explained Schmitz.
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