Dallas baller

MAV

["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword:\n\n**\"NBA team nickname, briefly\"**\n\nThis hint points toward the abbreviation of an NBA team's name without directly referencing Dallas or the word \"baller,\" making it easier to solve while still requiring some thought."]

The clue **"Dallas baller"** leads to the answer **"MAV"** through the following breakdown: 1. **"Dallas"** refers to the city in Texas, which is home to the NBA team the **Dallas Mavericks**. 2. **"Baller"** is a slang term for a basketball player. 3. Combining these, a "Dallas baller" is a player from the **Mavericks**, often abbreviated as **"Mav"** (short for "Maverick"). Thus, the answer is a clever abbreviation derived from the team's nickname.