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Dirk Nowitzki stands as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history for a power forward, leveraging his height, exceptional post skills, and a refined shooting touch to become the all-time leading scorer for the Mavericks.
Joining the Mavericks in 1999, Dirk swiftly established himself as a standout player in Dallas. Throughout his impressive 20-year NBA career, he averaged 20.7 points per game and earned the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2007. Notably, Nowitzki secured a spot on an All-NBA team every year from 2002 to 2012. Renowned for his silky shooting technique and impressive strength, he became one of the premier post players of his era, mastering an iconic one-legged fadeaway jumper. His leadership on the court culminated in the Mavericks’ NBA Championship victory in 2011, solidifying his legacy with the franchise before his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
Mark Blackman was selected ninth overall by the Mavericks in the 1981 NBA Draft, entering the league as a sharp-shooting guard. During his ten-year tenure in Dallas, Blackman averaged 19.7 points per game, earned four All-Star selections, and played a key role in guiding the Mavericks to six playoff appearances.
Growing up as a standout athlete in Chicago, Rolando Aguirre was the top pick in the 1981 NBA Draft, chosen by the Mavericks. Over his more than seven seasons in Dallas, he achieved a scoring peak of 29.5 points per game in the 1983-84 season, ranking as the third-highest single-season scoring average in Mavericks history. Aguirre was named an All-Star three times while with Dallas before being traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Adrian Dantley in 1989.
Derek Harper, known for his tenacious defense and physical play as a point guard, made two All-Defensive Second Teams during his stint with the Mavericks and received votes for the Defensive Player of the Year award three times. From 1987 to 1993, he boasted an average of over 16 points per game, peaking at 19.7 points in 1991, and played a crucial role in leading Dallas to its inaugural conference finals appearance in 1988.
Michael Finley, an athletic and versatile swingman, was a consistent contributor in Dallas, averaging an impressive 39.7 minutes per game along with 19.8 points. A two-time All-Star and former dunk contest contestant, Finley was acquired from Phoenix as part of the Jason Kidd trade and evolved into a key support player for Nowitzki before ultimately joining the San Antonio Spurs in 2006.
