This past week, the NBA Draft took place, and new rookies have started interacting with the local media of their new teams. Among these new faces, the Dallas Mavericks picked up French forward Melvin Ajinca, who will likely remain overseas for now as part of a draft-and-stash strategy.
Another notable rookie is Harrison Ingram, a forward who played for UNC and was picked up by the San Antonio Spurs. Ingram, originally from Dallas and a graduate of the St. Mark’s School of Texas, made a surprising revelation about his relationship with his hometown NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks. When asked if he had grown up as a Mavericks fan, Ingram candidly replied, “I’m not, I’m not a Mavs fan. I never really had a specific team growing up. I was always a LeBron [James] fan… Wherever he went, I was cheering for LeBron. I’m definitely a diehard Cowboys fan though.”
This confession, while earning a few groans when he mentioned the Cowboys, sparked interest due to the intense sports rivalries within Texas. Some in the media recalled the rivalry between LeBron James’ Miami Heat and the Spurs, particularly the dramatic 2013 NBA Finals where the Heat triumphed over the Spurs, who then took revenge the following year.
The Spurs and Mavericks rivalry reached its peak in the 2000s, with iconic players Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan leading their teams. Between 1999 and 2011, the two teams combined to win the Western Conference six times. However, the rivalry has cooled off in recent years, largely due to the Spurs’ struggles, having posted losing records for the past five seasons. The rivalry has also been marked by mutual respect, highlighted by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich ensuring that Nowitzki received a proper send-off in his final game.
With the arrival of young European stars—Luka Doncic for the Mavericks and Victor Wembanyama for the Spurs—the stage seems set for a potential revival of this historic rivalry. Ingram’s comment might just add fuel to this resurgence.
Interestingly, the Mavericks had shown interest in drafting Ingram, but the Spurs managed to select him with the 48th overall pick in the second round. Ingram’s basketball journey saw him start his college career at Stanford before transferring to UNC for his junior year. His unexpected allegiance—or lack thereof—to his hometown Mavericks adds an intriguing personal twist to the player narrative as he begins his NBA career with one of Dallas’ key rivals.
