'Confident' P.J. Washington Is Handling Major Mavs Need

P.J. Washington's 3-point percentage dipped six points from the 2024-25 to 2025-26 seasons, but that down year hasn't kept him from perimeter shooting being a key aspect of his game in 2026-27.

That's because new Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May has enabled Washington and his role in the offense that now features a premier facilitator in Kyrie Irving and an improving star Cooper Flagg.

"We need P.J. to be a 3-point shooter for us. He’s got a beautiful shot," May said after Washington's 26-point season high in Friday's win over Utah.

The Frisco, Texas, native is now shooting a tick under 37 percent from behind the arc on a career-high 6.5 attempts per game this season.

Washington was 5-of-6 from distance in just the first half against the Jazz. In Dallas' blowout over Brooklyn on Sunday, Washington had less volume but still made two of his three 3-point shots.

"I love him shooting with that amount of confidence, because we need it," May said. "But overall, just a really good game by P.J., especially in the first half [against Utah]. We won the hustle plays in the first half, but without his shots we’ll have a deficit."

Washington's resurgence has been a boost for a Dallas offense that struggled offensively last year. With Klay Thompson leaving in free agency and Max Christie off to an injury-riddled start, Washington's marksmanship has been exactly what the 29th-ranked 3-point shooting team last season needs.

That impact becomes extends with how Washington can play almost every position on the court. Along with newcomer Santi Aldama, he brings unique frontcourt spacing that is hard for bigger defenders to guard.

"When anybody has the hot hand you just want to feed them," Washington said, also crediting shooting coach Rob Fodor for instilling him with confidence in his preparation. "That goes with anybody on the team. When you get the feeling of it’s your night, you want the ball to come to you and you just want to shoot openly.

"But in general I just try to be the glue guy for everybody and clean up everybody’s messes and make everything stick."

We know how Irving can conduct the offense, but Flagg's playmaking has also taken a leap in his second season, which benefits perimeter spacers like Washington.

"There's been a lot of growth and that's something I worked on a lot, making reads, but I think that speaks to our group as well," Flagg said after beating the Nets with a career-high 12 assists.

"Everybody's just trusting each other. ... [I was] playing through our system and making the right play and guys were making shots, and it helps."

The 14 triples the Mavs hit against Brooklyn were the second-most they've made in a game this season. The 40 percent accuracy in the game was also the second-best result of the young campaign.

Dallas carries a two-game winning streak into the back end of a back-to-back when it faces the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on Monday night.