Dallas Mavericks have officially signed Sergio De Larrea to a four-year, $16.3 million NBA rookie contract following his Summer League performances, confirming a major step forward in his career and a significant loss for Valencia.
Sergio De Larrea signs four-year NBA contract with Dallas Mavericks
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Spanish guard will stay with the Dallas Mavericks after his Summer League appearances and sign a four-year contract worth $16.3 million.
The deal represents the maximum possible contract for a rookie selected between picks 10 and 30, underlining the strong belief Dallas has in his long-term development.
The Mavericks selected De Larrea with the 25th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, widely regarded as one of the most talent-rich classes in recent memory.
¡Mucha suerte, @Laaarry_14! 🧡
— Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) July 4, 2026
Cas 👉 Sergio De Larrea se marcha a la NBAhttps://t.co/Kq1HOMixNE
Val 👉 Sergio De Larrea marxa a la NBAhttps://t.co/a9OtaDyZCY
Eng 👉 Sergio De Larrea is heading to the NBAhttps://t.co/bAY7nkeF2c pic.twitter.com/pNkRhYivUP
Valencia lose another major young talent amid growing transition
For Valencia, this represents another significant departure, as the club continues to lose key young prospects to the NBA pipeline.
Spanish basketball, in general, has been going through a transitional phase in recent years, with a noticeable decline in NBA representation compared to previous generations. In past seasons, only Santi Aldama carried the Spanish flag in the NBA, while last year the Boston Celtics drafted Hugo Gonzalez, signaling a slow but steady emergence of a new generation.
De Larrea and Gonzalez are now viewed as key pieces of Spain’s next basketball wave, expected to restore the country’s presence at the highest level.
Santi Aldama and Sergio De Larrea to become Mavericks teammates
Interestingly, De Larrea will not be the only Spanish presence in Dallas, as Dallas Mavericks have already strengthened their European connection by acquiring Santi Aldama in a separate deal involving AJ Johnson, a future first-round pick in 2030, and two second-round selections, further reinforcing the franchise’s long-term international direction.
Pedro Martinez gave him trust – and De Larrea delivered
One of the key factors in De Larrea’s rise was the trust shown by head coach Pedro Martinez, who consistently gave him minutes throughout the season despite a deep guard rotation.
Even with experienced names like Jean Montero, Omari Moore, Darius Thompson, and Brancou Badio available, De Larrea managed to carve out a meaningful role.
Breakout performance vs Panathinaikos in the playoffs
His standout performance came in the playoff series against Panathinaikos, where he scored 18 points, hit four three-pointers, and added four assists.
He also shot an impressive 53.8% from three-point range during the playoffs, showing strong efficiency in a high-pressure environment.
Cold-blooded moment vs Olympiacos
Perhaps the defining moment of his season came against Olympiacos during the regular season. In a tense finish, with Jean Montero injured and unable to shoot free throws, head coach Pedro Martinez surprisingly turned to the youngest player on the court.
De Larrea stepped up and calmly sank both free throws to secure the win, showing composure well beyond his age.
Dallas bets on a long-term European project
While his NBA ceiling is still developing, one thing is clear – the Dallas Mavericks believe they have secured another high-upside European guard capable of becoming a long-term piece of their future.
