The Dallas Mavericks might have just found their point guard of the future. And it only took one Summer League game to make people pay attention.
Sergio De Larrea, the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, put together a stat line that turned heads on Monday. Playing against a Memphis Grizzlies Summer League squad that featured Cameron Boozer and Cedric Coward, De Larrea went for 16 points and 12 assists in a 96-88 win. Not bad for a 20-year-old who just got off a plane from Spain.
What stood out wasn’t just the numbers though. It was how he got them. De Larrea has legit size for a guard, and he used every inch of it. He sees the floor before the defense shifts, delivers the ball on time and on target, and never looked rattled even with the ball in his hands almost every possession. He turned it over four times, which isn’t perfect, but for a guy learning to be a primary playmaker in a new system? That’s way better than you’d expect.
Comfortable running the show
After the game, De Larrea made it clear he wants to keep that role. He told Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban that playing point guard felt natural. “I think it was good. … I think that we made good connections with all of the guys, so I would say I feel comfortable with playing point guard,” he said.
That’s the kind of confidence you want from a rookie. Especially one who’s spent years playing against grown men in European leagues. Summer League pace? That’s not going to scare him.
What this means for Dallas
The Mavericks have been searching for stability at point guard, especially with Kyrie Irving dealing with injuries. De Larrea isn’t going to step in and be a star right away. But Monday showed he can run an offense, create looks for teammates, and keep the game under control. That’s more than you can say for most rookies at this stage.
Fans online were quick to notice. The clip of his postgame comments got shared around pretty fast. And for good reason. De Larrea moves with the ball like someone who’s been doing this for years. His size lets him see over the defense, and his feel for passing is something you can’t really teach.
He’s still raw in spots. The turnovers need to come down. The scoring will have to become more consistent. But the foundation is there. And for a team that needs answers at the point, De Larrea might be the long-term option they’ve been waiting on.
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