Dallas Mavericks

One NBA title (2011). Dirk forever, and a Luka-led contender.

The story

Dirk's masterpiece and a shock that still stings

Dallas joined in 1980 and spent two decades as an afterthought. Then came Dirk Nowitzki, the seven-foot German who reinvented what a big man could be with his one-legged fadeaway.

In 2011 Dirk led a veteran underdog past LeBron's star-packed Heat for the title, the sweetest upset of its era, and the franchise's only championship.

Luka Doncic carried the next era to the 2024 Finals, then was traded in a move that stunned the league and the fanbase. Dallas turns the page again, with the memory of Dirk as its north star.

The 2006 Finals loss to Miami, after leading two games to none, made the 2011 redemption over the same opponent all the sweeter, one of sport's great revenge stories.

For the fans

You worship Dirk and you are still processing the Luka shock. Mavs basketball is brilliance, loyalty and the occasional gut punch.

For the punters

A team in flux. Read each line on personnel and rest news, because the roster math changed and old assumptions no longer hold.

See the Mavericks odds board →Rivalries: Spurs · Rockets

Power rank

trend -3

Record

31-23

Conference

West

Division