Jordan Spieth’s tough season saw missed cuts and poor finishes, but a recent viral video shows him back in the spotlight, sparking fresh buzz. In an update shared by the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA players were seen sharing a poignant moment with the golf star, Jordan Spieth.

The post first appeared on Clutch Points, where a “special guest” joined the Mavericks’ gym. The athletes shared memorabilia, with Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Max Christie giving some Mavericks’ gear to the 13-time PGA Tour champ. Spieth exchanged merch with the team, too. Moreover, the group captured the moment on the court with a basketball as a prop.

The Mavericks team will kick off their 2025-26 season against the San Antonio Spurs in less than a month. They will be expecting some of Spieth’s golfing caliber to leave an impression on them in the October rivalry. While this moment in itself is touching and prides strong cross-sports bonds, the undertones are more profound.

For Spieth, as a Dallas native, his appearance at the gym reinforces his ties to the city. However, not only does it highlight hometown pride, but it also shines a light on Spieth’s relevance to the sports community. Being on the court, smiling, giving gear, and receiving Mavericks swag frames Spieth as still in the game, still relevant, still respected. Given his underwhelming season, this moment becomes all the more profound.

The PGA Tour pro failed to make it past the St. Jude Championship in this year’s playoffs. Entering the first week with a 48th in the FedExCup standings, the golfer grinded through the rounds in an attempt to improve the rankings. However, after a 1-under first round, even pars on the second and third, and a 2-under on the final day, Spieth dropped 6 rankings, down to 54th. That placed just outside of the Top 50 players who advance to the following BMW Championship. That brief stint in the playoffs marked a heartbreaking season-ending, leaving him out of the Bethpage squad.

After five straight appearances at the Ryder Cup, the US team overlooked Spieth due to his struggling form. With a record of 8-9-5 at the Ryder Cup, the 32-year-old failed to make a case for Captain Keegan Bradley with his struggling driver. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Spieth’s struggles this year.

The PGA Tour pro faced heavy criticism for receiving sponsor exemptions into major events instead of working his way in. These exemptions included signature PGA Tour events, such as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Moreover, despite an 80th-place finish in the FedExCup standings last year, Spieth received a free pass to the Genesis Invitational earlier this year. Add to that the Memorial Tournament, and Spieth seems to have enjoyed his reputation more than a convincing performance.

His visit to the Dallas Mavericks’ gym, trading gear and sharing moments with stars like Anthony Davis, hints at Spieth regrouping and aiming for a comeback. However, Spieth’s falling form highlights a major underlying issue.

Jordan Spieth’s health battles this year

Jordan Spieth’s form has seen a general downward trend since 2024. However, that was not a mere turn of events. Spieth, who had been battling a nagging pain in his wrist since May 2023, underwent an injury to his tendon sheath. The golfer noted that the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon would often pop out of the sheath, causing agonizing pain and weakness. That nudged him to go with the surgery in August last year. That placed him out of the golfing scene until February this year, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

However, his performances have been mixed throughout the year, with rare T4 finishes threatening almost-victories. Entering the playoffs this year, Spieth noted that he was in a better place than earlier. While not fully recovered, Spieth had made considerable progress. “I’m super, super happy about everything that’s happened [surgically],” Spieth quipped. “Structurally, whether it was making a difference or not, it was a reset and a chance to try to position things a little bit better and for the long-term going forward.”

However, more recently, Spieth withdrew from the Travelers Championship due to a neck and upper back injury. This marked the first time the PGA Tour pro withdrew due to an injury, out of 297 starts. That brings forward the disturbing season Spieth had. However, his return to the sports media hints at his relevance in the athletic bubble. Whether that will show up in his 2026 season or not, that’s up for debate.