The surprising way Mavericks and Pistons stars are preparing to play at altitude in Mexico City

Every year, when U.S. pro leagues play in Mexico City, one question inevitably comes up: how will the altitude affect the athletes? Whether it’s MLB, the NFL or the NBA, players are reminded that the Mexican capital sits at about 7,350 feet above sea level, roughly 2,400 feet higher than Denver, the highest major city in the United States.

This time, the focus is on the 2025 NBA Mexico City Game, where the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons will square off. As usual, reporters asked players how they’re preparing for the thin air. The short answer: most aren’t.

Anthony Davis: “We play in Denver, so it’s not a big deal”

For Mavericks forward Anthony Davis, the altitude isn’t a concern. He pointed out that the team is already used to playing in Denver and said there was no need for any special preparation. Davis, however, will ultimately miss the game due to a leg injury.

“No, I didn’t prepare any differently,” Davis said. “We’ve played at altitude before in Denver, so no, I didn’t do anything special.”

Rookie Cooper Flagg feels the difference

Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg admitted that the altitude will be something new for him. He said veteran teammates warned him that Mexico City is even higher than Denver, which has him bracing for a different kind of experience.

“I don’t want to say I’m worried, but it’s definitely a big difference,” Flagg said. “They told me it’s higher than Denver, so obviously it’s going to feel different.”

Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart: “It’s a quick trip, so you just deal with it”

On the other side, Isaiah Stewart, who will be tasked with guarding Davis, said there was no real way to prepare. The Pistons arrived in Mexico City late Thursday night and practiced the following morning, leaving little time to adjust.

“No, not really,” Stewart said. “It’s a short trip. You just deal with it, because there’s not much you can do. We’ll go out there and play basketball.”

Ausar Thompson turned to conditioning

One of the few players who did make an effort to get ready was Ausar Thompson. The Detroit guard said he focused on cardio workouts to boost his stamina, but even that wasn’t enough to keep him from feeling winded when he arrived.

“I did a lot of conditioning,” Thompson said. “Honestly, when I got to my room last night, I was like, ‘Man.’ But I’ve gotten a little more used to it as time’s gone on.”

Tipoff in the thin air

The Mavericks and Pistons will tip off at 8 p.m. local time at Arena CDMX, where the altitude, and the spectacle, will once again test how well NBA players can perform far above sea level.

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