Rolando Blackman

Rolando Blackman was the steady hand that legitimized Dallas basketball. Over 11 seasons with the Mavericks he became the franchise's all-time leading scorer, a mark that stood until Dirk Nowitzki finally passed it in 2008. His game was built on a repeatable mid-range jumper and a competitor's calm; the Panama-raised guard was the shot you wanted with the clock winding down. Here's the tell most fans miss: across 865 games in a Mavericks uniform, he never once fouled out. That isn't luck — it's discipline and elite positioning, a defender who stayed in front without reaching. Four All-Star nods and a No. 22 in the rafters underscore what he meant to a young expansion team still learning how to win.