Dallas Mavericks

Lore & Background

Throughout the 1980s, the Mavericks were a perennial playoff team, led by All-Stars Rolando Blackman and Mark Aguirre. They struggled during the 1990s, entering a period of rebuilding, until the acquisition of Dirk Nowitzki in 1998. Nowitzki would become the cornerstone of the most successful period in franchise history, leading the team to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and its only NBA championship in 2011. The Mavericks later entered a rebuilding phase in the tail end of Nowitzki's storied career; although they missed the playoffs in three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019 (after which Nowitzki retired following his record-breaking 21st season with Dallas), the franchise's fortunes immediately rebounded once again with the acquisition of Luka Dončić; the Mavericks returned to the playoffs in 2020, reached the Western Conference finals in 2022 for the first time since their 2011 championship, and reached their third NBA Finals in 2024. In February 2025, the Mavericks traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers mainly for Anthony Davis. Since the Mavericks' inaugural 1980–81 season, the Mavericks have won seven division titles (1986, 1987, 1988, 2007, 2010, 2021, 2024), three conference championships (2006, 2011, 2024) and one NBA championship (2011).

In Their Own Story

The arena hums before the puck drops. The ice is fresh, that particular blue-white sheen that only a freshly resurfaced rink has, and the Zamboni has just finished its final pass, leaving a faint mist curling off the surface. A kid in the third row is bouncing on his toes, a foam finger in one hand, a half-eaten hot dog in the other. The jumbotron flickers to life, and the crowd noise shifts from a murmur to a roar. The center ice logo is a star, simple and bold, and for a few minutes before the face-off, everyone in the building breathes as one. Then the puck hits the ice, and Dallas erupts.

Reader's Guide

The Mavericks were founded in 1980 as an expansion team. They play at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The team's nickname was chosen by fans from the TV western 'Maverick.' Key early players included Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, and Brad Davis. The franchise's greatest success came under Dirk Nowitzki, culminating in the 2011 NBA championship.

Did You Know?

• The Mavericks' name was chosen by fans via postcard, beating out Wranglers and Express.
• Actor James Garner, who played the title character in the TV show 'Maverick,' was a member of the original ownership group.
• The Mavericks share their home arena, American Airlines Center, with the NHL's Dallas Stars.
• Dirk Nowitzki played 21 seasons for the Mavericks, a record for the most seasons with a single team in NBA history.