Brad Davis

Brad Davis, born December 17, 1955, in Monessen, Pennsylvania, is a singular figure in Dallas Mavericks history — the player who embodies the spirit and identity of the original franchise. Known as "The Original Maverick," Davis played his entire NBA prime with Dallas from 1980 to 1992, becoming the heartbeat of the franchise through its expansion era and into its first competitive years. Davis played college basketball at the University of Maryland, developing under Lefty Driesell before being selected in the second round of the 1977 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He bounced between several teams — the Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, and Montana Gold of the Western Basketball Association — before Dallas selected him in the 1980 expansion draft as one of the very first Mavericks. That selection defined both his career and the franchise's identity. Davis was the starting point guard for the Mavericks from their very first NBA game, orchestrating an expansion roster that grew, year by year, into a legitimate Western Conference contender. During his 12 seasons with the team, he accumulated 7,067 points and 5,990 assists — numbers that reflected his identity as a team-first facilitator who made everyone around him better. His career assist numbers with Dallas remained a franchise record for many years. Davis was not the most physically gifted player in NBA history — he succeeded on intelligence, court vision, leadership, and an unmatched dedication to the craft of point guard play. He was the team captain who held the locker room together during the franchise's growing pains, the player who stayed while others came and went. The Mavericks retired his number 15 on April 18, 2000, giving the "Original Maverick" a permanent place in the franchise's history.