Rookie guard Sergio De Larrea has emerged as a promising prospect for the Dallas Mavericks following a noteworthy performance during the recent NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The 6-foot-6 Spaniard, known for his playmaking abilities and court vision, distributed a total of 35 assists throughout the tournament, including an impressive 14-assist game in a victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
De Larrea, a longtime fan of the Mavericks who once admired former star Luka Doncic during his early career in Spain, brings a size and creativity at the point guard position that the team has lacked since Doncic’s departure. His ability to execute both traditional and unconventional passes was evident in the Summer League, where he effectively set up teammates in transition and exploited defenses with timely lobs to high-flying players like Tobi Lawal and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu.
In addition to his passing, De Larrea showed a willingness to adapt to the more physical style of the NBA. He acknowledged the increased contact and reduced fouls on hand-checking compared to European leagues, noting that finishing aggressively through contact is a current focus of his development. This physicality will be a key adjustment as he transitions from Spain’s Liga ACB to the NBA.
De Larrea’s style has drawn comparisons to former NBA point guards Goran Dragic and Ricky Rubio, the latter an influence on his game. While an accomplished playmaker, De Larrea aims to improve his three-point shooting to better fit the NBA’s perimeter-oriented offense. He shot 42.9% from beyond the arc with Valencia Basket last season but managed only 20% on five attempts per game during Summer League. He cited differences in shooting mechanics between European and NBA ranges as a challenge he is working to overcome.
Before joining the Mavericks, De Larrea averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over 23 games with Valencia Basket in the 2025-26 season. His performance earned him the Liga ACB Best Young Player award, as well as recognition on the All-Liga ACB Young Players Team for two consecutive years. He was also named MVP of the 2025 Spanish Super Cup after helping Valencia secure the championship.
Selected as the 13th guard in the 2026 NBA Draft, De Larrea entered the league without the same level of fanfare as some of his peers, including lottery picks Brayden Burries and Darryn Peterson. Despite this, his size, vision, and prior accolades suggest he has the tools to carve out a role in Dallas. With a supporting cast that includes skilled rim finishers Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford, alongside sharpshooters Kyrie Irving and Max Christie, De Larrea has a foundation to develop his game at the NBA level.
The Mavericks opted to draft forward/center Morez Johnson Jr. with their No. 9 pick instead of selecting a higher-profile backcourt player like Burries, who was selected 10th overall by Milwaukee. If De Larrea continues to progress as projected, he could become a valuable rotation player under head coach Dusty May and follow in the footsteps of past successful under-the-radar picks notable within the organization’s history.