Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks were founded in 1980 as an expansion franchise and built competitive teams through the 1980s before a long decline in the 1990s. The original Mavericks were anchored by Brad Davis ("The Original Maverick," #15) at point guard, Rolando Blackman (#22) as their four-time All-Star scoring guard, and Derek Harper (#12) as one of the premier defensive guards in the Western Conference. This core took Dallas to the 1988 Western Conference Finals — the deepest postseason run of the franchise's early era. The 1998 draft of Dirk Nowitzki from Würzburg, Germany fundamentally transformed the franchise and helped reshape the modern NBA. Nowitzki's revolutionary combination of size, shooting range, and footwork as a 7-footer redefined what a power forward could be, inspiring a generation of versatile big men who followed. His 2011 championship run — defeating LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh's Miami Heat superteam in six games alongside a veteran Jason Kidd — ranks among the greatest individual playoff performances in NBA history. Nowitzki averaged 26.0 points per game during those Finals, repeatedly delivering in clutch moments when his team needed it most. His 21 seasons of loyalty to one franchise stands as one of the most remarkable commitments in professional sports history. The franchise acquired Luka Dončić via trade on draft night 2018, and the Slovenian prodigy quickly established himself as the best young player in the NBA, leading Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals. In February 2025, the Mavericks sent Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, beginning a new chapter. Davis played one season in Dallas before being traded in February 2026 to the Washington Wizards — part of a three-team deal that brought Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III, and AJ Johnson to Dallas. With Cooper Flagg — the 2025 #1 overall pick — now averaging 20+ points as a 19-year-old rookie and Kyrie Irving providing veteran star power, the Mavericks are building their next championship core under head coach Jason Kidd, the Hall of Fame point guard who helped win the 2011 title as a player. The team plays at American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas, where Nowitzki's retired #41 hangs in the rafters alongside franchise legends Harper (#12), Brad Davis (#15), and Rolando Blackman (#22).