Chelsea |
2011-05-10 12:53 |
HISTORY
The Dallas Mavericks ,founded in 1980, are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas, USA. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). According to a 2011 Forbes Magazine report, they are the sixth most valuable basketball franchise in the United States, valued at approximately $438 million.
The Dallas Chaparrals In 1979, businessman Don Carter and partner Norm Sonju requested the right to bring an NBA franchise to Dallas, Texas. The last professional basketball team in Dallas had been the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association, which moved to San Antonio in 1973 to become the San Antonio Spurs.
The Name of Dallas Mavericks At the 1980 NBA All-Star Game, league owners voted to admit the new team, with the team's name coming from the 1957–1962 TV western Maverick, the name was chosen by the fans with 4600 postcards received beating Wranglers and Express. There was some controversy at the time since the University of Texas at Arlington also uses the Mavericks nickname.
From Midwest Division to Southwest Division The Dallas Mavericks joined the Midwest Division of the Western Conference, causing a divisional realignment with the Midwest and Central Divisions, and would stay there until the league went to six divisions for the 2004–05 season and the team moved to the Southwest Division.
Mavs' Dark Ages The 1990s were known as the Mavs' "dark ages". They never reached the playoffs from 1991 through 2000, bottoming out with an 11-71 record in 1992-93 and a 13-69 mark in 1993-94. Much of their freefall was blamed for various off-court and on-court distractions, particularly Roy Tarpley's drug abuse, which eventually got him banned from the NBA, and the injuries and former coach Quinn Buckner's disciplinary approach. The mid-90s were considered the only positive period for the Mavs, led by The 3 J's: Jason Kidd, Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn. Kidd would become the most famous of the trio, winning Co-Rookie of the Year (with Grant Hill) in 1994-95 and eventually a perennial All-Star.
The Big Three - Nash, Nowitzki & Finley The Mavericks returned to prominence in the 2000s, first led by a new "Big Three" of Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash. With a new owner in Mark Cuban and head coach Don Nelson leading the crew, they returned to the playoffs in 2001, eventually returning to the Conference Finals in 2003. However the San Antonio Spurs would emerge as their main rivals, defeating them in the playoffs each time.
Disbandment of The Big Three The Big Three gradually disbanded with Nash returning to the Phoenix Suns in 2004, and Finley picked up off waivers by the Spurs in 2005. Nowitzki emerged as the team's leader, and with Avery Johnson coaching the team.
2006 NBA Playoffs The Mavericks would make their first NBA Finals appearance in 2006; along the way exacting revenge against the Spurs and defeating Steve Nash and the Suns. However after leading 2-0 to the Miami Heat, they lost the Finals' next four games.
2007 NBA Playoffs The Mavs' best regular season came in 2006-07, winning 67 games and earned the NBA's best record. Despite Nowitzki's MVP showing, the Mavericks were upset by their former coach Don Nelson and the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors in the 2007 NBA Playoffs.
Head Coach Dick Motta (1980-1987) John MacLeod (1987-1989) Richie Adubato (1989–1992) Gar Heard (1992-1993) Quinn Buckner (1993–1994) Dick Motta (1994-1996) Jim Cleamons (1996-1997) Don Nelson (1997–2005) Avery Johnson (2005-2008) Rick Carlisle (2008-present)
Team Awards
Division Titles - 1987, 2007, 2010, 2011 Western Conference Titles - 2006, 2011 Championships - 2011
2006-Western Conference Titles
2011-Western Conference Titles
2011-Championships
Individual Awards
NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki – 2011
NBA Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki – 2007
NBA Rookie of the Year Jason Kidd – 1995
NBA Coach of the Year Avery Johnson – 2006
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Roy Tarpley – 1988 Antawn Jamison – 2004 Jason Terry – 2009
Dallas Mavericks Original Logo (1980-2001)
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