The Dallas Mavericks franchise, which was founded in 1980, does not have as lengthy of a history in comparison to many other NBA franchises. When most think of the Dallas Mavericks, players like Dirk Nowitzki, Derek Harper, Jason Terry, and Luka Dončić come to mind; and rightfully so. Dirk Nowitzki played 21 seasons for Dallas while leading them to the franchise’s first NBA Championship in 2011. Derek Harper was the consistent face of the franchise for the majority of the 80s and a portion of the 90s. Harper is now one of the voices of the Dallas Mavericks local TV broadcast with FOX Sports Southwest. Jason Terry was the sidekick to Dirk Nowitzki from 2004 to 2012 and was a key component of the 2011 NBA Championship team. And now, Slovenian superstar, Luka Dončić, has become the heir apparent to Dirk Nowitzki as the face of the franchise.
Everyone that I listed above has, in my opinion, received appropriate gratification for their contributions to the Dallas Mavericks franchise. This list though, calls attention to the lesser appreciated Mavs that still greatly contributed to the success of the team over the years. Let’s take a look at my list which ranks the most underappreciated Dallas Mavericks players since the turn of the century.
7. Deshawn Stevenson
- Years with the Mavs: 2 seasons (2009-2011)
- Games played with the Mavs: 96
- Games started with the Mavs: 59
- Points per game with the Mavs: 4.5
- Field Goal Percentage with the Mavs: 50%
- Achievements with the Mavs: NBA Champion (2011)
My Thoughts:
Deshawn Stevenson (along with Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood) were traded to the Mavs in February of 2010 in exchange for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton, and Quinton Ross. His stats with the team don’t particularly stand out in that he averaged only 14.7 minutes per game with the team. It was his insertion into the starting lineup during the 2011 NBA Playoffs that made Deshawn Stevenson so invaluable. He had all of the toughness and grit that the Dallas Mavericks needed in order to beat the super team that was the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. He was tasked with hitting timely shots and guarding Dwyane Wade and Lebron James. Deshawn comes in at #7 on my list because most Mavs fans do remember his contributions but his role was less flashy than that of Dirk or Jason Terry’s, yet very critical nonetheless.
6. Nick Van Exel
- Years with the Mavs: 2 seasons (2001-2003)
- Games played with the Mavs: 100
- Games started with the Mavs: 3
- Points per game with the Mavs: 12.7
- Minutes per game with the Mavs: 27.8
My Thoughts:
Nick Van Exel was traded to Dallas in February of 2002 and during his time with the team he was a role player tasked with being a spark off the bench. It was his run during the 2003 NBA Playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks that was magical. At this time in his career, Van Exel was a 10 year veteran. It was this experience that became so valuable. His most memorable performances with the team came in the 2nd round against the Sacramento Kings who were led by Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, and Mike Bibby. Van Exel averaged 25.3 PPG during this series. During games 2 and 3 of this series he caught fire scoring 36 and 40 points back to back. Overall his contributions helped take the Mavs to the franchise’s first Western Conference Finals appearance. This valuable playoff run in which Van Exel thrived ended up being great playoff experience for Dirk Nowitzki. It is for that reason why Nick Van Exel comes in at #6 on this list.
5. Monta Ellis
- Years with the Mavs: 2 seasons (2013-2015)
- Games played with the Mavs: 162
- Games started with the Mavs: 162
- Points per game with the Mavs: 19
- Minutes per game with the Mavs: 35.3
- Assists per game with the Mavs: 4.9
My Thoughts:
In his 1st season with the Dallas Mavericks in 2013-14, Monta Ellis averaged 19 PPG and was the team’s 2nd leading scorer. During his 2nd season with the team in 2014-15 he became the leading scorer of the team with 18.9 PPG. He was just so consistent as a scorer in his two seasons with the Mavs. Monta also started in all 162 games in which he appeared for the Mavs which further supports how consistent he was. He was a worthy sidekick to Dirk Nowitzki who was in the back 9 of his career. He is one of my favorite Mavs players (post NBA Championship). Monta’s contributions to the team truly helped propel the team into the playoffs in 2014. That Mavs team would push the eventual NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs to 7 games in the 1st round of the playoffs. I really enjoyed watching Monta Ellis play and he deserves more praise for what he accomplished during those 2 seasons in Dallas.
4. Erick Dampier
- Years with the Mavs: 6 seasons (2004-2010)
- Games played with the Mavs: 424
- Games started with the Mavs: 356
- Points per game with the Mavs: 6.5
- Field Goal Percentage with the Mavs: 59%
- Rebounds per game with the Mavs: 7.6
- Achievements with the Mavs: NBA Finals Starting Center (2006)
My Thoughts:
Erick Dampier was the starting center during some of the Dallas Mavericks most successful years. The team finished with at least 50 wins in all 6 seasons that he was with the team. Dampier was not a flashy player by any means but he was the true definition of consistency for the team. He started in 84% of the games that he appeared in during his tenure in Dallas. The 6’11” center’s role for the Mavs was to defend the paint and pull in rebounds and he did just that. He also was the starting center for the team’s first NBA Finals appearance in 2006. “Damp” is #4 on this list because I feel like he does not get the respect deserves for being so consistent during his 6 seasons in Dallas.
3. Devin Harris
- Years with the Mavs: 10 seasons (2004-08, 2013-18, 2018-19)
- Games played with the Mavs: 608
- Games started with the Mavs: 129
- Points per game with the Mavs: 8.3
- Minutes per game with the Mavs: 20.5
- Achievements with the Mavs: Member of NBA Finals Team (2006)
My Thoughts:
Devin Harris, who came into the NBA in 2004, spent 10 of his 18 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. It was that longevity with the Mavs that speaks to just what kind of player Harris was. During his 2nd and 3rd stints with the Mavs, Harris was a role player and an NBA veteran. It is Harris’ 1st stint with the Mavs that I feel deserves more praise. Devin Harris was a big spark during the 2005-06 NBA Playoffs in which the Mavs finally took down their in state rival, the San Antonio Spurs. During that series he started 6 of 7 games and averaged 12.7 PPG. It was his speed and quickness that proved to be too much for the Spurs. Harris played a key role in the Dallas Mavericks reaching the franchise’s first NBA Finals and I don’t feel his contributions that year are discussed enough. And for that reason, Devin Harris comes in at #3 on this list.
2. Josh Howard
- Years with the Mavs: 7 seasons (2003-2010)
- Games played with the Mavs: 431
- Games started with the Mavs: 368
- Points per game with the Mavs: 15.3
- Minutes per game with the Mavs: 31.7
- Rebounds per game with the Mavs: 6
- Field Goal Percentage with the Mavs: 45.4
- Achievements with the Mavs: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2004), Member of NBA Finals Team (2006), NBA All-Star (2007)
My Thoughts:
Josh Howard was drafted with the last pick in the 1st round of the 2003 NBA Draft. The infamous 2003 draft in which Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh came into the NBA. Josh Howard was a true hidden gem in a top heavy NBA draft class. During the 2005-06 season, Howard averaged 15.6 PPG which put him as the team’s 3rd leading scorer behind Dirk Nowitzki (26.6 PPG) and Jason Terry (17.1 PPG). This team would reach the franchise’s first NBA Finals. During the 2006-07 season, Howard improved to be the team’s 2nd leading scoring with 18.9 PPG behind Dirk Nowitzki’s 24.6 PPG. He is truly a Mavs all time great because he was arguably the team’s 2nd (or 3rd) best player during two of the most successful seasons in team history. I really hope that people don’t forget how good he really was. “J-Ho” truly in an underappreciated Mavs player.
1. Michael Finley
- Years with the Mavs: 9 seasons (1996-2005)
- Games played with the Mavs: 626
- Games started with the Mavs: 606
- Points per game with the Mavs: 19.8
- Minutes per game with the Mavs: 39.7
- Free Throw Percentage with the Mavs: 81.5
- Rebounds per game with the Mavs: 5.2
- Field Goal Percentage with the Mavs: 44.6
- Achievements with the Mavs: NBA All-Rookie First Team (1996), 2x NBA All-Star (2000, 2001)
My Thoughts:
Coming in at #1 on my list is none other than Michael Finley. Some may wonder why Finley is even on this list at all. Also he was traded to the Mavs in 1996 which is before my “Post 2000” criteria of this list. He’s on this list because Finley played 9 seasons in Dallas which went well into the 2000s. The reason why I feel that Finley is the most underappreciated Dallas Maverick is because he was the face of the franchise before Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash got to the team in 1998. Even after Dirk and Nash got there, it was still Finley’s team for a couple more years. That fact is often forgotten. He was a veteran presence that I’m sure helped with Nash and Dirk’s development which eventually led to both players becoming league MVPs. He was a consistent and tenacious scorer that you could mark down for at least 20 points each game. He was one of the original components for the complete turnaround of the franchise in the early 2000s. We must never forget just how great Michael Finley was during his time in Dallas.
Disclaimer:
This list assumes that the following Mavs receive the appropriate appreciation:
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Jason Terry
- Steve Nash
- Tyson Chandler
- Shawn Marion
- Jason Kidd
- J.J. Barea
How do you feel about this list? Let me know who your “Most Underappreciated Dallas Maverick” is by voting in the poll below and leaving a comment. Thanks for reading!
