Team History
Based in Dallas, Texas, the Dallas Mavericks are a pro basketball team in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the NBA. The Mavericks were founded in 1980 and replaced the Dallas Chaparrals (who moved and became the San Antonio Spurs) and were previous members of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Their name was derived from a popular TV show from the 1950’s-1960’s called Maverick.
The first team was considered by many to be a sure failure, given the fact that 18 out of the 22 players drafted had less than three years of pro basketball experience. The smartest move made by the Mavericks during the early years was hiring Dick Motta as their first head coach. Motta had taken the Washington Bullets to a championship in the 1977-78 season and was known as a strict head coach that really understood the game.
The Maverick’s first game was against the San Antonio Spurs and resulted in a win for Dallas (103-92). It was one of six wins during their most discouraging record to date (15-67). The acquisition of Brad Davis, a 6’3” guard from the Anchorage Northern Knights, seemed to be a relatively minor move by the Mavericks, but turned out to be a key player in the early franchise years. Davis led the team in assists and launched a huge career that would help build the team’s popularity.
After the 1981 Draft, the Mavericks drafted forwards Mark Aguirre and Jay Vincent and guard Rolando Blackman to the team. Both Aguirre and Blackman would contribute around 20 points per game, with Blackman contributing 19.2 points during his 11-year Dallas career. Vincent, however, was a crucial part of this chapter in Mavericks' history, providing 21.4 points per game and winning NBA All-Rookie Team honors. This was their first time not finishing the season with the worst record in the league. The Mavericks pulled out of last place with a record of 28-54, beating the Utah Jazz.
Over the course of the next few years, the Mavericks steadily improved, increasing their victories in slow fashion. The 1982-83 season was marked by a record of 38-44, which was a 10 game improvement over the previous year. Although they did not make it to the playoffs, this was only the Mavericks' third year in the NBA.
The Mavericks’ hard work and strong coaching from Motta finally paid off in the 1983-84 season when they finished with a record of 43-39, signifying another huge leap in their league standings. It was this season that the Mavericks clinched a playoff spot, earning Aguirre an NBA All-Star and averaging 29.5 points per game. They went on to beat the Seattle SuperSonics in five games in the Western Conference playoffs, but fell to the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one.
During this same time, the Dallas Cowboys were not at the top of their game, which led many sports fans in Dallas to turn their heads toward the Mavericks. Continual victories during the 1984-85 season helped the Mavericks feel stronger and more in-tune to the game, posting a final record of 44-38. The most exciting time for the Mavericks came between 1985 and 1987. James Donaldson was acquired after trading Kurt Nimphius to the Los Angeles Clippers which featured steady center team addition. The Mavericks' most successful season came in 1986-87 with a 55-27 record. They acquired a Division Title, but fell short of the Conference Title against the Seattle SuperSonics.
The Dallas Mavericks most recent successful season arrived in 2006 when they won a Conference title, but fell to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. With new talent and diligent playing, the Dallas Mavericks seem as if they are ready to take the reigns and shoot for the NBA Finals. While the team has a promising start, it will take a lot more than just numbers to get Mavericks tickets sold. They need a strong team to bring home the crucial wins, and with their ever-increasing records, it won’t be long before they do it.
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