It’s time for the Boxing Day edition of our current NBA Tuesday miniseries! Last week, we were in Cleveland with the Cavaliers; this week, we’re hanging with the Dallas Mavericks, winners of a single NBA title in their existence. And there are a lot of big names on this list below, all things considered; this has been an underrated franchise due to the lack of titles, but never count out Big D when it comes to anything!

No. 10: Steve Nash, PG—42.7 WS (1998-2004)

After languishing on the bench for his first two NBA seasons, in Phoenix, the Mavs acquired Nash and put him right into the starting lineup. He ended up making two All-Star teams before going back to the Suns, eventually. But with Dallas, Nash posted 14.6 ppg and 7.2 apg over 408 regular-season games—and 15.9 ppg and 7.5 apg in 43 playoff games. It’s a shame the team let him get away for his best seasons elsewhere, eh?

No. 9: Luka Dončić, PG/SG—43.8 WS (2018-present)

The team’s current rock star, Cool Hand, is something of a wonder: 28.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg, and 8.1 apg in his career so far through 358 regular-season games. He was ROTY in 2019, and he’s made 4 straight All-Star teams coming into this season. It’s crazy to think that the Atlanta Hawks drafted and immediately flipped him to the Mavs. Dončić also has led the NBA in postseason scoring average the last two playoff years.

No. 8: Dwight Powell, PF/C—44.8 WS (2014-present)

A pretty anonymous guy, he’s worked his way up this list thanks to 19 mpg over 609 regular-season games with Dallas. He’s only started 246 of those games, and Powell has no accolades to highlight here. This is a true case of quantity over quality, sadly. His best season—8.2 WS—came at age 30 for him, which was the 2021-2022 season. He’s sort of dropped off the cliff since then, so we will see how much he has left now.

No. 7: Mark Aguirre, SF—49.0 WS (1981-1989)

He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 draft as the Dallas franchise was coming off its first year ever in expansion. An All Star 3 times in his first 7 seasons with the Mavericks before being traded to Detroit, Aguirre posted 24.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, and 3.8 apg across 566 regular-season games. In the postseason with the team, he was just as solid: 23.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 3.7 apg in 45 playoff games. He was the first rock ever here.

No. 6: Brad Davis, PG—52.1 WS (1980-1992)

A first-round pick for Los Angeles in 1977, he ended up with the expansion Mavs by 1980—his fourth team already. But Davis found a home in Dallas despite never earning any major accolades: 8.6 ppg and 5.1 apg in 883 games with the Mavs in the regular season. He actually shot 51 percent from the floor for his career with Dallas, too, so his lack of scoring wasn’t due to a lack of ability. He also shot 53 percent in 45 playoff games.

No. 5: Michael Finley, SG/SF—58.4 WS (1996-2005)

He was a two-time All Star for Dallas, and in 626 regular-season games (606 starts), Finley dropped 19.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 3.8 apg. In 3 different seasons with the Mavericks, he led the NBA in minutes player per game, too. In a thin time for the franchise, he was handled well in the postseason by opponents, as Finley’s numbers dropped a bit there: 17.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 2.9 apg in 56 playoff games—certainly not his fault.

No. 4: Jason Terry, PG/SG—60.5 WS (2004-2012)

A key cog in the golden era of Mavericks hoops, Terry never made an All-Star team, but he did help the team reach the Finals twice (2006, 2011). In 87 playoff games, he averaged 16.9 ppg and 3.5 apg, starting 46 times in the process of doing whatever the team needed him to do. In the regular season with Dallas over 619 games (285 starts), Terry put up 16.2 ppg, 4.1 apg, and 1.2 spg. Also, he was the NBA Sixth Man in 2009.

No. 3: Derek Harper, PG/SG—65.8 WS (1983-1993, 1996-1997)

It’s hard to believe he never made an All-Star team in his career, but it’s true. Despite posting 14.4 ppg, 5.9 apg, and 1.8 spg over his time in Dallas (872 regular-season games), Harper never was recognized much for his efforts, other than a few All-Defensive team nods. Three different years he posted over 9.0 WS, including 9.9 WS in his best season (1989-1990). He finished with the second-most WS of his draft class, too.

No. 2: Rolando Blackman, SG—70.3 WS (1981-1992)

A lot of players on this list ground out seasons with the early-expansion Mavericks—and lived well to tell the tale. Blackman is no exception: 19.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 3.2 apg in 865 games (781 starts). He earned 4 All-Star nods in the process, including 3 in a row at one point (1985-1987). In 48 playoff games, he was even better: 21.6 ppg, 4.1 apg, and 3.8 rpg. Unfortunately, the team just never got very deep in the postseason.

No. 1: Dirk Nowitzki, PF/C—206.3 WS (1998-2019)

To be atop a team’s list, you either have to be a lifer with the team—or very good. Sometimes, it’s both, as in this case: 20.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 2.4 apg over 1,522 regular-season games … and 25.3 ppg and 10.o rpg through 145 playoff games (all starts). Dirty was the NBA MVP in 2007 and the Finals MVP in 2011, in addition to racking up 14 All-Star designations. He also was the 2004 NBA scoring champ, just for kicks.