Jamarion Sharp has always stood out — literally — thanks to his towering 7-foot-5 frame. But this offseason, he’s focusing on something even more important than height: conditioning and offensive polish.
After impressing in last year’s Summer League, the Dallas Mavericks signed Sharp to a training camp deal. While fans were hyped to see how he’d translate to the NBA level, his preseason performance was inconsistent. Ultimately, Dallas passed on a two-way contract, and Sharp spent the 2024–25 season developing with the Texas Legends.
His time in the G League paid off. Sharp averaged 6.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks in just 21.6 minutes per game — showing he could stay on the court longer without wearing down. It was clear he had taken his fitness seriously.
While in Las Vegas for Summer League, Sharp confirmed the Mavs’ staff had been emphasizing that very point.
“Mostly my conditioning,” Sharp told The Smoking Cuban when asked what the coaching staff wanted him to focus on. “Getting up and down, being able to set screens and getting out and just affecting the game like I always do.”
According to sources inside the Mavericks organization, the coaching staff has noticed a difference. Sharp’s energy in Vegas was far better, and he stayed active for longer stretches — a must for a center competing at the NBA level.
Josh Broghamer, the Mavericks’ Summer League coach, still rotated Sharp and Moussa Cisse often, but the improvement was undeniable.
Of course, Sharp’s height grabs attention — he’d be the NBA’s tallest player if signed — but the game has evolved. Bigs need more than size. His offensive repertoire needs expanding if he’s to truly stick around.
“Being more dominant on offense,” Sharp said, when asked what he hopes to improve before training camp. “I’m more of a defensive player, but I need to be more dominant on offense so I can have both sides of my game complete.”
Right now, Sharp thrives off lobs and put-backs, but he’s working on his back-to-the-basket skills and finishing touch. Interestingly, he’s also shown promise as a shooter during Summer League practices — an encouraging sign for a player once viewed as purely rim-bound.
With no clear frontrunner for the final two-way contract, Sharp’s battle is far from over. But if he continues improving his stamina and offensive toolkit, the Mavericks could finally reward him with a deal.
And considering the injury history of bigs like Dereck Lively II, adding another rim protector like Sharp wouldn’t be a bad move for GM Nico Harrison as the roster takes shape.
