Compared to many of the other teams in the NBA, the Dallas Mavericks don't have a pantheon of legendary players that the entire basketball world worships. However, there have been more than enough players who donned the Dallas jersey and made something of it.
Since their start as a franchise, a number of impressive players have made their mark on the team. These players have wowed Dallas hoops fans with their incredible skills on the court, helping establish the team as an entertaining team to watch throughout its lifespan as an NBA franchise.
Of course, it's impossible to put all of the Mavs' top players in this list, so some of your favorites might not even make the cut. At some point, Luka Doncic will be barging his way on here, but not just yet.
Here are the five greatest Dallas Mavericks of all time.
5. Steve Nash
Steve Nash is best known for orchestrating Mike D'Antoni's Seven Seconds or Less offense with the Phoenix Suns, but he first got his big break with the Mavericks. It was through teaming up with Dirk Nowitzki that Nash built a reputation of being one of the most elite point guards the game has ever seen.
Through six seasons with the Mavs, Nash averaged 14.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. The Nash that most NBA fans know and love sharpened his game with the Mavs.
The worst part for Mavs fans? He actually wanted to stay in Dallas. However, Mark Cuban made a big mistake in letting him walk for nothing, One can only imagine how the 2006 Finals would have gone if Nash was in the team.
4. Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd is one of the best floor generals to ever grace the hardwood, and he spent a good chunk of his career with the Mavericks.
Of course, it's important to note that he spent his best years with the New Jersey Nets and Phoenix Suns. However, one thing that Kidd has that Nash doesn't is the championship ring in his finger.
His incredible generalship on the floor was instrumental for the incredible upset the Mavs pulled over the Big 3 Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. Kidd showcased to Cuban and the rest of the world what the Mavs were missing the last time they were in the Finals.
In his eight seasons for the Mavs, Kidd averaged 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 8.4 assists a game.
3. Michael Finley
Michael Finley is another recent player. Unlike the other two, however, Finley spent most of his peak years with the Mavericks.
Fin Dawg was an unbelievable scorer during his years with the Mavs, and it's his unstoppable scoring spree that got him invites to two All-Star Games. During his stint with the Mavericks, he averaged 19.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game. Unfortunately, he was out of the team by the time they played in the 2006 Finals.
However, Finley got his ring. He was a part of the San Antonio Spurs that systematically tore down LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007 Finals. However, he was far from the team's focus on offense by this point.
2. Mark Aguirre
It's impossible to talk about the Mavs' all-time players and not mention Mark Aguirre. He was one of the Mavs' first stars in the '80s, and his impact on the team during its early years is immeasurable.
Aguirre was a solid offensive leader for the Mavs during a time that the Lakers and Celtics dominated the NBA. In his seven-and-a-half seasons with the Mavericks, he was nothing short of phenomenal. He averaged 24.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game. He got three All-Star notches under his belt for his incredible run with the Mavs.
Like Finley, Aguirre would eventually away from the Mavs. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons during the 1988-89 season, and it was with the Bad Boys that he won his two NBA titles.
1. Dirk Nowitzki
Everyone knew this was coming the moment they saw the headline. It's blasphemous not to talk about the greatest Mav of all time and not have Dirk Nowitzki top every single one of those lists.
Unlike the other four stars in this list, the Tall Baller From The G spent his entire career wearing only one jersey. Even without his Hall Of Fame career, the fact that he played through three decades for only one team speaks volumes about his quality.
Once you add in his accolades, you will leave convinced that he's the greatest Mavericks player of all time. Here's a list of his accomplishments:
- 14-Time All-Star
- 12-Time All-NBA
- 2006-07 MVP
- 2011 NBA Champion
- 2011 NBA Finals MVP
There's no argument right now: Dirk is the greatest Mavericks player to ever lace them up … but Luka Doncic might have something to say about that.
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