Dallas Mavericks

The NBA agreed to add a franchise in Dallas after experiencing a loss of profits and ratings in the late '70s. The 1962 TV western series Maverick inspired the franchise's name, and Dick Motta became the team's first head coach in 1980.

The Mavericks became a consistent playoff team in the '80s thanks to All-Stars like Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman. A rebuild in the '90s led to the addition of Dirk Nowitzki, who guided the franchise to its first NBA championship in 2011 and spent 21 seasons with the team. Luka Doncic arrived in Dallas via the 2018 NBA Draft. Along with Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavericks returned to the playoffs in 2019. After longtime leader Rick Carlisle's resignation in 2021, Jason Kidd became the new head coach.

  • Established: 1980
  • Championships: NBA Championship (2011)
  • Additional achievements: two conference titles (2006, 2011) and four division titles (1987, 2007, 2010, 2021)
  • Arena: American Airlines Center

Visit the Dallas Mavericks team page.

Read the latest articles about the Dallas Mavericks:

Luka Doncic playing in the EuroLeague, a European Basketball League
NBA
What Are the Best European Basketball Leagues?

As we saw with Team USA's FIBA World Cup loss, basketball is now a global sport. There are a ton of European basketball leagues stuffed with talent.

Darrelle Thompson • 26 Sep 2019
Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks in 2019
NBA
The Mavericks Are Paying Tribute to Dirk Nowitzki in a Unique Way

Dirk Nowitzki was one of the game's best players. Recently, fans learned what the Mavericks plan to do to honor the future Hall-of-Famer.

Darrelle Thompson • 24 Sep 2019
Kristaps Porzingis will finally play for the Mavericks in 2019, but what should they expect from the big man?
NBA
What Will Kristaps Porzingis Bring to the Mavericks in 2019-20?

When the New York Knicks drafted Kristaps Porzingis with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the team was ridiculed for taking an international big with decorated college players still available. Porzingis and the Knicks proved the doubters wrong, and he became one of the league's top big men. The Knicks trading Porzingis […]

Darrelle Thompson • 13 Sep 2019
Mark Cuban
NBA
Mark Cuban Was Just Fined for Leaking NBA Information

Mark Cuban has always been one of the NBA's most outspoken owners. After his latest fine, it's safe to say that trend is continuing.

Darrelle Thompson • 05 Aug 2019
Buying the Dallas Mavericks was one of the smartest business decisions Mark Cuban ever made.
NBA
How Much Did Mark Cuban Pay for the Dallas Mavericks?

No matter what you think of Mark Cuban, his business acumen is top-notch, and that includes his purchase of the Dallas Mavericks.

Bradley Geiser • 29 Oct 2020
Luka Doncic won the NBA Rookie of the Year award for 2018-19, but then he had airline trouble on his way back home.
NBA
The Good and the Bad of Luka Doncic's NBA Offseason

After a breakout season in the NBA, Luka Doncic has experienced some incredible peaks and frustrating valleys during his 2019 offseason.

Darrelle Thompson • 08 Jul 2019
Dirk Nowitzki goes down as one of the best international players in NBA history.
NBA
Is Dirk Nowitzki the Best International NBA Player Ever?

Dirk Nowitzki retired from the NBA at the end of the 2018-19 season in memorable fashion, but is he the best international player ever?

Darrelle Thompson • 23 Sep 2019