The NBA is chock-full of world-class playmakers, and the Dallas Mavericks may have the next great one of the future in their possession.
Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Trae Young — the list goes on and on of who are the best in the league. Of course, the Mavericks at one time actually had one of (and technically, two of, counting Jalen Brunson) those names on their team. The one the team kept initially, Dončić, served them extremely well until he was shipped out in one of the most shocking trades in NBA and sports history.
Finding a “Dončić replacement” is like finding a needle in a haystack. That hasn’t stopped Dallas from trying.
And, in terms of playmaking, the Mavericks may have something close: Sergio De Larrea. The way De Larrea, who went No. 25 in the 2026 NBA Draft, slings the rock to his teammates is worth the price of admission by itself.
De Larrea Plays Above the Rim
Look at this lob pass from Sergio De Larrea versus the Los Angeles Lakers in Summer League:
His pass is so pin-perfect it looks like it’d go in the basket, even without Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu on the back end to finish it. He puts the ball in the perfect spot, with just enough touch so it reaches the right destination.
This wasn’t a fluky play, either. Against Golden State, De Larrea connected on an eerily similar lob to Akobundu-Ehiogu.
Once again, De Larrea looks like he’s thrown a pass into the sixth row. Instead, it’s in the perfect spot for his roller to finish the highlight. His touch and precision are otherworldly, and that’s extremely evident on his lob passes.
In another clip from Summer League, here’s De Larrea making magic on a lob all the way from the three-point line:
If a viewer paused the clip above at the apex of the catch, the ball is just over the outstretched arms of 7-foot big man Lawson Lovering. Any higher, it’s out of the reach of Akobundu-Ehiogu. Any lower, Lovering is swatting the pass and ending the possession.
How De Larrea can put his lob passes exactly where they need to be pretty much every time isn’t just a neat party trick. It highlights his incredible touch and elite precision that is also present on his passes below the rim.
De Larrea Also Boasts Robotic Processing
Many of the great passers of basketball are often described as having “eyes in the back of their head.” In limited action and film, Sergio De Larrea seems to fit that mold.
While it’s extremely early, it’s looking so far like De Larrea is going to be one of those players.
The pass he makes at the 45-second mark of the video is a perfect showing of his elite processing. With the shot clock about to expire, the Grizzlies send a defender to shut off De Larrea’s nearest passing valve. Unfazed, De Larrea sends the ball back where the defender came from.
The result? An easy layup for Kao.
Another brilliant example is the first pass in the video. De Larrea, initially going for a reverse layup, spots top pick Morez Johnson with space underneath. In midair, he adjusts and dumps the ball off to the big man for the basket.
In another clip (starting at the 26-second mark), his pass to Darin Green Jr. is not one most make in that position. Usually, the ball handler holds the ball and brings it up the court to initiate half-court offense. Instead, De Larrea spots an opportunity to push the pace and get a chance at a quick basket. During that sequence, he never hesitates.
De Larrea reads the floor with what seems like an all-seeing eye. That ability can open up so many opportunities for any offense, and certainly will open up the reserve of potential for the highs De Larrea can reach.
Sky is the Limit for De Larrea
De Larrea as an overall player already has so much upside. However good he ends up being, his passing ability will be his defining characteristic.
De Larrea’s touch enables him to make any pass from any position. His precision puts those passes where only Mavericks’ players could receive them. The way he can scan a floor is also impressive, allowing him to manipulate coverages to get looks he and the team want.
De Larrea has all the tools to become a top playmaker in this league, and he’s using them to good effect already. Now all that’s left is to refine them.
And when that happens, watch out.
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