The Dallas Mavericks didn’t draft Sergio de Larrea in the first round just to stash him overseas for another year. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the plan is for the 20-year-old Spanish guard to join the team directly for the 2026-27 season.
“Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea coming directly to the NBA next season: ‘That is the plan.’ de Larrea plays for Dallas’ summer league team in Las Vegas next week after helping Valencia win the Spanish ACB crown last week,” Stein reported.
That’s a pretty clear signal from the front office. They traded into the No. 25 pick in the 2026 draft via a three-team deal with the Lakers and Knicks. And now they’re ready to see what they’ve got.
What de Larrea brings to Dallas
He’s been playing pro ball in Spain since he was 15. That’s not nothing. Last season with Valencia he logged 72 games off the bench and put up 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Shooting splits were solid — 43.6% from the floor and 38.8% from three.
At 6-foot-5 with point guard skills, he’s got the kind of size the Mavericks like in their backcourt. But let’s be real: he’s still raw. Those numbers don’t jump off the page. He wasn’t a starter. He was a rotation piece on a good Spanish team.
So the question is where does he fit on a Mavs roster that’s trying to contend right now? That’s not totally clear yet. He might need some time to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NBA. But the team clearly thinks highly enough of him to bring him over immediately rather than let him marinate in Europe.
First look coming in summer league
Mavs fans will get their first real look at de Larrea when summer league tips off. Dallas opens against the Golden State Warriors on July 9 in Las Vegas. That’s a low-stakes environment but it’ll tell us a lot about how he handles NBA-level athletes.
He just helped Valencia win the ACB title in late June. That’s a real championship in a legit league. Winning matters. So does playing in big moments. He’s had some of that experience already at a young age.
The Mavericks have a track record of developing international guards. Luka Doncic worked out okay. Jalen Brunson wasn’t international but they let him grow. If de Larrea develops the way the front office thinks he can, Dallas might have found another contributor in the late first round.
For now though, it’s all potential. Summer league will be the first data point. Then training camp. Then we’ll see if the kid can actually get minutes on a team that’s trying to win now.
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