The Mavericks found their SECRET weapon...

Let's start with Walter Clayton Jr. because he didn't play just one game yesterday.

He technically played two.

He was obviously claimed from Dallas earlier on in the week.

We think back to October 19th.

He was waived and then two days later he signed with Dallas and then was active just hours after getting signed for the season opener.

And then we think back to yesterday, Dusty May came out after the game and said that Walter Clayton Jr. basically did a double header because he played earlier on in the day in the Mavericks stay ready game, which is the run for guys who aren't in the rotation.

And then yesterday, Sergio de la Raya went down in the second quarter with the knee strain and then Clayton obviously had to step up and he put up eight points in his first seven minutes.

He finished with 15 points on six of seven from the field, two of two from three with four boards, four assists, a block, all in 17 minutes in technically his second game of the day.

And this is the number that has a lot of fans excited and everyone's kind of talking about.

Dallas won by four and Clayton was a plus 22 in his 17 minutes, which means in the 31 minutes he sat, Dallas was a minus 18.

That plus 22 was the best in the team, better than Cooper Flagg, better than Kyrie Irving, better than everybody.

And he also was working very hard on defense.

We think back to around 8 minutes left, he blocked a Bobby Portis layup, which kind of set the tone for the rest of the game.

Now, Dusty May called him a gamer and said he has ice water in his veins, but Clayton's explanation of his incredible game yesterday was even shorter.

As simple as that, I have to stay ready.

And it wasn't just one night.

We think back to Saturday against the Spurs, where he had 5 assists and no turnovers in 14 minutes, which means that over his last two games, he has 9 assists and 2 turnovers.

And Clayton Jr. says the move to Dallas has been easy.

His words were, it's been a seamless transition.

And when asked about last season, I only take it as a learning year, which is exactly what Dallas asked him to do.

Just be a good lead guard.

Make sure the team is organized whenever I'm on the floor.

Hit shots.

So how does a guy like this end up on a two-way contract? Because 18 months ago, he was one of the best players in college basketball.

Florida 2025, national champions, and Clayton was the Final Four's most outstanding player.