P.J. Washington’s biggest complaint about the new-look Dallas Mavericks? His teammates won’t teach him their languages yet. The forward had jokes at Mavs media day, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
Asked what stood out about the new group, Washington pointed to “how many languages they speak,” saying he hopes to pick up a few this year. Then came the punchline: “Not yet. They’ve kind of been stingy.” He said Serge De Larrea and Santi Aldama have been speaking Spanish to each other, so he’ll “have to pick their brains a little bit.”
A Global Roster in Dallas
Per ClutchPoints, the Mavs’ international mix includes De Larrea, Aldama, France’s Zaccharie Risacher and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Biberovic. Washington also called it an advantage: “We got a lot of smart guys on this team. I think it’s gonna be a good year for us.”
Dallas is entering its first season under head coach Dusty May and is trying to get back to the playoffs after a two-year absence. Washington, who averaged 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds last season, is also helping mentor Cooper Flagg.
The IAHHM Take
Carolina fans remember P.J. from his Charlotte Hornets days (Charlotte took him 12th overall in 2019, per Wikipedia), before he was traded to Dallas in February 2024 and became a key piece of a Finals run. He’s always been the glue guy who keeps a locker room loose, and this is exactly that energy.
Jokes aside, the language thing is a real basketball edge. The NBA is more global than ever, and teams that connect off the court usually communicate better on it. If P.J. is the bridge between the vets, the international guys and a young cornerstone like Flagg, that matters.
Which language should P.J. learn first, Spanish or French? And are the Mavs a playoff team this year?
Throwback: How P.J. Washington Spent His First $1M in the NBA. More hoops: IAHHM Sports.
Source: ClutchPoints
