2008 Regular Season Opener vs Lakers

Lore & Background

The Mavericks were founded as an expansion team in 1980. Throughout the 1980s, they were a perennial playoff team, led by All-Stars Rolando Blackman and Mark Aguirre. They struggled during the 1990s until the acquisition of Dirk Nowitzki in 1998. Nowitzki led the team to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and its only NBA championship in 2011. After a rebuilding phase, the franchise rebounded with Luka Dončić, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024. In February 2025, the Mavericks traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers mainly for Anthony Davis.

Reader's Guide

The Mavericks have won five division titles (1987, 2007, 2010, 2021, 2024), three conference championships (2006, 2011, 2024), and one NBA championship (2011). Their home games are played at American Airlines Center, which they share with the Dallas Stars of the NHL.

Did You Know?

• The team's name comes from the 1957–1962 TV western Maverick; fans chose the title with 4,600 postcards received, beating Wranglers and Express.
• James Garner, who played the title character in the TV show, was a member of the original ownership group.
• The Mavericks' first head coach was Dick Motta, who had guided the Washington Bullets to the NBA Championship in 1977–78.
• Journeyman guard Brad Davis, signed in December of the inaugural season, spent the next twelve years with the Mavericks and had his number 15 jersey retired.