Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May praised Sergio De Larrea’s performance against the San Antonio Spurs, saying the rookie has earned increasing trust through his play in summer league, exhibition games and practices.
De Larrea scored a team-high 21 points off the bench in Saturday’s 122-106 loss to San Antonio, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range. He also recorded five rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes as Dallas played without Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
The performance marked a significant change in his role. De Larrea played 6:51 in Dallas’ season-opening 128-110 loss to the Houston Rockets on October 21, recording two rebounds and one assist without scoring. Two days later, he played just 56 seconds in a 121-105 win over the Indiana Pacers.
“He’s obviously — this was a great opportunity for him,” May said after the game. “He didn’t get the same last night at Indiana for obvious reasons, with Coop and Kyrie getting those minutes, but he’s certainly earned more and more trust.”
May pointed to De Larrea’s consistent approach as a reason for his growing role with the Mavericks, highlighting the rookie’s work beyond game nights.
“He’s played like this pretty consistently when you factor in summer league, the exhibition play and in practice,” May said. “He has a great mindset every day.”
The coach also discussed the value of playing De Larrea alongside other ball handlers, including Marcus Sasser and, when available, Irving and Flagg. May said having multiple players capable of initiating the offense is the best scenario for Dallas, although the team must adjust to different matchups.
San Antonio’s defensive pressure presented a significant challenge. The Spurs forced 21 Dallas turnovers and converted them into 26 points, with May acknowledging that the Mavericks needed a clearer plan to handle the pressure.
“We have to do a better job of finding the guys that can bring it up and break pressure the easiest,” May said. “We’ve got to do a better job of being strong and establish players, everyone. We’ve just got to have a little bit tighter plan.”
May also acknowledged the learning opportunity De Larrea received when San Antonio assigned Stephon Castle to defend him in the second half. The coach said those matchups can help the rookie adapt to the NBA’s physicality and athleticism.
“When you think of growth and development, those reps — I wish we could avoid them a little more frequently,” May said. “But when you factor in how valuable those reps are for him as he gets stronger and his body adapts to the speed and athleticism of the game, [they’re] invaluable.”
May expects De Larrea to continue improving after a performance that reinforced the trust he has built within the team. Dallas, now 1-2, visits the Miami Heat on Monday.
