PUEBLO, Colo – Over the past few months, coaches for both the New York Mavericks (two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney) and Oklahoma Wildcatters (World Champions Kody Lostroh and Ednei Caminhas) have been asked dozens of questions as they embraced new roles with their respective PBR Camping World Team Series squads.

From the toss-ups of “Why New York” and “What makes you love this format most” to the harder-hitting “Why now?”, “What kept you from making this move when the league was first created” and beyond …

… each of the recently welcomed executives and team skips have excelled in not only playing up their individual roles and what they’ll bring to the table as World Champions and long-tenured Western shot callers, but the league itself and their shared excitement for the sport’s growth overall!

“It couldn’t have happened at a better time, I guess. I broke my neck and was forced into retirement, so I didn’t know what I was going to do. I raised bucking bulls, I had a bunch of bucking bulls, so I figured I would just do that. Then Brandon (Bates: Wildcatters’ General Manager) calls me, asking me if I’m interested. So, they drive down, talk to me and I said ‘You know what? Yeah,’” Mauney shared last month.

“It’s a way for me to give back to the sport that gave me everything and also still be competitive in a certain sense.”

RELATED: Oklahoma Wildcatters, bull riding legend J.B. Mauney set to hit the ground running in 2024

Unafraid of the eye of the storm, Mauney addressed both his riding career (more on than next month!) and new venture with the Wildcatters head-on, stating his interest and passion in helping to expand the sport’s already red-hot, 5-on-5 landscape.

But for as much commotion as the introductory press events, interviews and other community and media-based engagements have created for the gentlemen as individuals and front office foes alike, some of the most crucial questions they’ll face this spring, ahead of the 2024 PBR Teams Expansion Draft (set to take place on April 10 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), will come from themselves and members of their own organizations as the teams prepare to welcome its initial 2024 rosters next month.

Questions like:

“Will we be a win-now squad (see: the Austin Gamblers), or a slower build for the future? (shoutout to the dynasty-forward Missouri Thunder)”

“Are we willing to take a risk on veteran guys who may currently be banged up or on the road to recovery? (Hard not to think of the Nashville Stampede, here) Or are we prioritizing health and availability (Just as the Carolina Cowboys have, as the league’s most active squad in the ever-evolving trade market).”

“Do we want to reach and roll with our guys? (As some may have accused the Kanas City Outlaws of last season, when they selected a rather unfamiliar talent, at the time, at least, in Cassio Dias)

Or does it make more sense to take the “value” approach, selecting proven talent and letting some of the ‘project-type’ guys fall later into the draft?” (Not a bad approach by any means: Just ask the Arizona Ridge Riders, the only team which has finished within the Top 3 in both of the first two PBR Teams Championship events inside T-Mobile Arena).

“Are we balanced? Age, riding hand, attitude, nationality (see: the importance of World Champions in Adriano Moraes and Guilherme Marchi types coming on as assistant coaches in 2023, instantly connecting with Brazilian riders and ensuring they are engaged within team culture).”

These are some of the non-result-based intangibles Mauney, Lostroh and company continue to navigate in getting their ducks in a row ahead of the talent-leaching runway. And while each of the listed measurables can showcase a glimpse of what riders bring to the dirt, what they bring to the locker room can be a whole other scouting report. Especially considering a majority of these men have been competing as individuals for 20-30 years; sometimes the camaraderie and team-building evades certain riders.

But after two seasons of big celebrations and plenty of team bonding, most of those guys have either found their way to other ventures outside of the 5-on-5 format or 100% bought in, as smiles (and event checks) are contagious.

Any unsatisfied riders who still need to be convinced of the “all-in, team-based approach” will now potentially get a chance to press the reset button and start over from scratch. If they are selected by either of the Mavericks or Wildcatters, that is!

Ahead of Tuesday’s announced protections, each of the league’s founding eight teams were able to protect three riders, making those riders ineligible to be selected next month by the Wildcatters and Mavericks. With the event featuring a snake draft, the Wildcatters will select first overall, later watching on as the Mavericks select at both No. 2 and No. 3 before getting back on the board at No. 4.

With the 35 remaining unprotected riders joining the ever-existing pool of free agent talent (projected around the 100+ rider mark), Mauney, Lostroh and friends will have plenty of personnel to choose from. Which may end up being the hardest part of this whole thing!

Plenty of room for failure, but even more room for some year-one success!

Featuring plenty of proven veterans like Keyshawn Whitehorse, No. 4 Austin Richardson, Josh Frost, (and even World Champions like Kaique Pacheco, Silvano Alves and beyond), these won’t be easy selections by any means.

The one thing we do know: Both Oklahoma and New York are primed to have competitive rosters, as the ninth and tenth PBR Teams’ squads prepare to form their inaugural rosters.

With the league announcing protected and unprotected riders Tuesday morning, the Wildcatters and Mavericks will have the opportunity to welcome any of the following unprotected riders, including:

Arizona Ridge Riders: Luciano De Castro, Vitor Losnake, Keyshawn Whitehorse, Chase Dougherty

Austin Gamblers: Austin Richardson, Rafael dos Santos, Ramon de Lima, Lucas Divino, Ezekiel Mitchell

Carolina Cowboys: Josh Frost, Tate Pollmeier, Derek Kolbaba, Arthur Antonialle

Florida Freedom: Casey Roberts, Alex Cerqueira, Joao Lucas Campos, Conner Halverson

Kansas City Outlaws: Wingson Henrique da Silva, Sandro Batista, Leonardo Castro Ferreira, Bob Mitchell, Marcus Mast

Missouri Thunder: Briggs Madsen, Paulo Rossetto, Eduardo Matos, Trace Redd

Nashville Stampede: Kaique Pacheco, Silvano Alves, Chase Outlaw, Dener Barbosa, Mason Taylor

Texas Rattlers: Braidy Randolph, Brady Oleson, Daniel Keeping, Eli Vastbinder

From World Champions to up-and-coming UTB rookies and everyone in between, the Wildcatters and Mavericks will have access to a variety of cowboys next month.

Now, they just need to figure out what kind of guys they want to be surrounded by in the third season of PBR Camping World Team Series action!

And with each of No. 2 John Crimber, No. 17 Clay Gution and No. 40 Marco Rizzo (who’s only participated in five premier series events so far) declaring themselves eligible for the circuit’s 2024 New Rider Draft, the possibilities of Game 1 rosters continues to whirlwind!

Which riders would you select next month if you were in charge of building a PBR Teams squad?

Tag us @PBR on social media channels with your lineup and stay tuned to PBR.com as we predict which riders will be selected, and where they will land in the coming weeks!

Photo courtesy of Christopher Thompson/Bull Stock Media