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Last updated September 14, 2026

Dallas Mavericks history · NBA regular season

The 25 Greatest Dallas Mavericks of All Time

Dirk Nowitzki ranks No. 1 after producing 6,053.1 Franchise Value across 21 seasons in a Mavericks uniform. Luka Dončić, Derek Harper, Jason Kidd, and Rolando Blackman complete the top five. This ranking covers 1980–81 through 2025–26.

25 ranked players1980–81 through 2025–26 franchise coverage1,000 minimum minutesRegular season only
See the full top 25How the ranking works

The answer at a glance

The top five

Franchise Value estimates how many regular-season points above a replacement-level player someone produced for this franchise. It rewards both strong seasons and staying power.

  1. No. 1

    Dirk Nowitzki

    6,053.1Franchise Value

    21 seasons · 1,522 games
    20.7 PPG · 7.5 RPG · 2.4 APG

  2. No. 2

    Luka Dončić

    2,824.4Franchise Value

    7 seasons · 422 games
    28.6 PPG · 8.7 RPG · 8.3 APG

  3. No. 3

    Derek Harper

    2,432.2Franchise Value

    12 seasons · 872 games
    14.4 PPG · 2.6 RPG · 5.9 APG

  4. No. 4

    Jason Kidd

    1,839.5Franchise Value

    8 seasons · 500 games
    10.5 PPG · 5.5 RPG · 8.4 APG

  5. No. 5

    Rolando Blackman

    1,588.7Franchise Value

    11 seasons · 865 games
    19.2 PPG · 3.6 RPG · 3.2 APG

The full list

The full top 25

Every name links to a full career profile. The best-season rank is the player’s leaguewide Impact Rate rank for that season.

  1. 1

    Dirk Nowitzki

    6,053.1 value · 21 seasons · best: 2005–06

    6,053.1Franchise Value
    21 seasons1998–99 to 2018–19
    2005–06Impact Rate No. 4
    20.7 / 7.5 / 2.4PPG / RPG / APG
  2. 2

    Luka Dončić

    2,824.4 value · 7 seasons · best: 2023–24

    2,824.4Franchise Value
    7 seasons2018–19 to 2024–25
    2023–24Impact Rate No. 3
    28.6 / 8.7 / 8.3PPG / RPG / APG
  3. 3

    Derek Harper

    2,432.2 value · 12 seasons · best: 1989–90

    2,432.2Franchise Value
    12 seasons1983–84 to 1996–97
    1989–90Impact Rate No. 17
    14.4 / 2.6 / 5.9PPG / RPG / APG
  4. 4

    Jason Kidd

    1,839.5 value · 8 seasons · best: 1995–96

    1,839.5Franchise Value
    8 seasons1994–95 to 2011–12
    1995–96Impact Rate No. 18
    10.5 / 5.5 / 8.4PPG / RPG / APG
  5. 5

    Rolando Blackman

    1,588.7 value · 11 seasons · best: 1983–84

    1,588.7Franchise Value
    11 seasons1981–82 to 1991–92
    1983–84Impact Rate No. 20
    19.2 / 3.6 / 3.2PPG / RPG / APG
  6. 6

    Mark Aguirre

    1,578.7 value · 8 seasons · best: 1983–84

    1,578.7Franchise Value
    8 seasons1981–82 to 1988–89
    1983–84Impact Rate No. 9
    24.6 / 5.7 / 3.8PPG / RPG / APG
  7. 7

    Jason Terry

    1,499.4 value · 8 seasons · best: 2006–07

    1,499.4Franchise Value
    8 seasons2004–05 to 2011–12
    2006–07Impact Rate No. 36
    16.1 / 2.3 / 4.1PPG / RPG / APG
  8. 8

    Michael Finley

    1,486.0 value · 9 seasons · best: 1997–98

    1,486.0Franchise Value
    9 seasons1996–97 to 2004–05
    1997–98Impact Rate No. 25
    19.8 / 5.2 / 3.8PPG / RPG / APG
  9. 9

    Brad Davis

    909.1 value · 12 seasons · best: 1982–83

    909.1Franchise Value
    12 seasons1980–81 to 1991–92
    1982–83Impact Rate No. 47
    8.6 / 1.9 / 5.1PPG / RPG / APG
  10. 10

    Steve Nash

    882.5 value · 6 seasons · best: 2002–03

    882.5Franchise Value
    6 seasons1998–99 to 2003–04
    2002–03Impact Rate No. 23
    14.6 / 2.9 / 7.2PPG / RPG / APG
  11. 11

    Sam Perkins

    851.4 value · 6 seasons · best: 1989–90

    851.4Franchise Value
    6 seasons1984–85 to 1989–90
    1989–90Impact Rate No. 44
    14.4 / 8 / 1.8PPG / RPG / APG
  12. 12

    Josh Howard

    674.4 value · 7 seasons · best: 2006–07

    674.4Franchise Value
    7 seasons2003–04 to 2009–10
    2006–07Impact Rate No. 44
    15.3 / 6 / 1.7PPG / RPG / APG
  13. 13

    Dwight Powell

    670.9 value · 12 seasons · best: 2018–19

    670.9Franchise Value
    12 seasons2014–15 to 2025–26
    2018–19Impact Rate No. 44
    6.5 / 4.3 / 1PPG / RPG / APG
  14. 14

    Shawn Bradley

    630.1 value · 9 seasons · best: 2002–03

    630.1Franchise Value
    9 seasons1996–97 to 2004–05
    2002–03Impact Rate No. 47
    7 / 5.7 / 0.6PPG / RPG / APG
  15. 15

    Kyrie Irving

    538.6 value · 3 seasons · best: 2023–24

    538.6Franchise Value
    3 seasons2022–23 to 2024–25
    2023–24Impact Rate No. 20
    25.5 / 4.9 / 5.1PPG / RPG / APG
  16. 16

    Shawn Marion

    526.2 value · 5 seasons · best: 2012–13

    526.2Franchise Value
    5 seasons2009–10 to 2013–14
    2012–13Impact Rate No. 55
    11.6 / 7 / 1.8PPG / RPG / APG
  17. 17

    Jim Jackson

    513.6 value · 5 seasons · best: 1995–96

    513.6Franchise Value
    5 seasons1992–93 to 1996–97
    1995–96Impact Rate No. 65
    19.6 / 4.9 / 3.8PPG / RPG / APG
  18. 18

    Devin Harris

    453.4 value · 10 seasons · best: 2006–07

    453.4Franchise Value
    10 seasons2004–05 to 2018–19
    2006–07Impact Rate No. 127
    8.3 / 2 / 2.8PPG / RPG / APG
  19. 19

    James Donaldson

    444.9 value · 7 seasons · best: 1986–87

    444.9Franchise Value
    7 seasons1985–86 to 1991–92
    1986–87Impact Rate No. 60
    8.8 / 9.5 / 0.8PPG / RPG / APG
  20. 20

    George McCloud

    406.0 value · 3 seasons · best: 1995–96

    406.0Franchise Value
    3 seasons1994–95 to 1996–97
    1995–96Impact Rate No. 38
    15.2 / 4.1 / 2.2PPG / RPG / APG
  21. 21

    Vince Carter

    391.6 value · 3 seasons · best: 2012–13

    391.6Franchise Value
    3 seasons2011–12 to 2013–14
    2012–13Impact Rate No. 36
    12 / 3.7 / 2.4PPG / RPG / APG
  22. 22

    Kristaps Porziņģis

    357.8 value · 3 seasons · best: 2019–20

    357.8Franchise Value
    3 seasons2019–20 to 2021–22
    2019–20Impact Rate No. 71
    20 / 8.8 / 1.8PPG / RPG / APG
  23. 23

    Jay Vincent

    339.7 value · 5 seasons · best: 1981–82

    339.7Franchise Value
    5 seasons1981–82 to 1985–86
    1981–82Impact Rate No. 56
    16.9 / 6.5 / 2.2PPG / RPG / APG
  24. 24

    J.J. Barea

    337.2 value · 11 seasons · best: 2017–18

    337.2Franchise Value
    11 seasons2006–07 to 2019–20
    2017–18Impact Rate No. 66
    8.6 / 2 / 3.8PPG / RPG / APG
  25. 25

    Brandan Wright

    335.1 value · 4 seasons · best: 2013–14

    335.1Franchise Value
    4 seasons2011–12 to 2014–15
    2013–14Impact Rate No. 29
    8.3 / 4 / 0.5PPG / RPG / APG

What separates the list

Peak and staying power

The main order uses total Franchise Value. These views show who supplied the biggest single seasons and who contributed across the most seasons.

Why No. 1

Why Dirk Nowitzki leads

Dirk Nowitzki produced 6,053.1 Franchise Value, 3,228.7 more than Luka Dončić. His best team season was 2005–06, when he ranked No. 4 in leaguewide Impact Rate.

If you put more weight on playoff moments, championships, or awards, your order may differ. This list does not quietly fold those judgments into the number.

Most seasons among the top 25

Dirk Nowitzki · 21 seasons

Dirk Nowitzki logged 1,522 games and 51,368 regular-season minutes across 1998–99 to 2018–19.

Best individual seasons

  1. 1
    Luka Dončić2023–24 · Impact Rate No. 3
    646.9
  2. 2
    Dirk Nowitzki2005–06 · Impact Rate No. 4
    528.4
  3. 3
    Dirk Nowitzki2002–03 · Impact Rate No. 7
    520.3
  4. 4
    Luka Dončić2022–23 · Impact Rate No. 2
    520.2
  5. 5
    Dirk Nowitzki2004–05 · Impact Rate No. 7
    503.4

Franchise Value leaders by decade

  1. 1980s
    Derek HarperMost value in the decade
    1,748.4
  2. 1990s
    Michael FinleyMost value in the decade
    836.3
  3. 2000s
    Dirk NowitzkiMost value in the decade
    4,197.4
  4. 2010s
    Dirk NowitzkiMost value in the decade
    1,663.4
  5. 2020s
    Luka DončićMost value in the decade
    2,130.5

Just outside the list

Nos. 26–30

  1. No. 26Roy Tarpley329.4
  2. No. 27Jim Spanarkel329.4
  3. No. 28Tyson Chandler303.8
  4. No. 29Daniel Gafford273.1
  5. No. 30Jamal Mashburn267.1

Method and limits

What this ranking measures

This is a model ranking, not a claim that one number settles every argument about franchise greatness.

01

Count only team value

We add the player’s hussEyquation Season Value only while he belonged to this franchise. A player needs at least 1,000 franchise minutes to qualify.

02

Split traded seasons

When a player changed teams, his season value is divided by the minutes played at each stop. In 1950–51, when minutes were not recorded, games are used instead.

03

Use one clear order

Higher total Franchise Value ranks first. Ties are broken by the player’s best leaguewide Impact Rate rank, then franchise minutes. Peak seasons and per-game stats are context, not hidden inputs.

04

Know what is missing

The model covers NBA regular seasons from 1950–51 onward. Playoffs, championships, awards, cultural importance, and ABA seasons are not inputs.

Sources and historical estimates: Team stints and conventional totals come from Basketball Reference; Franchise Value comes from the hussEyquation model. The site reconstructs missing box-score inputs through 1972–73. Exact Raw BPM inputs begin in 1973–74. In a traded season, the model has one combined season impact estimate; only the value allocation is split by team workload. Data were checked for this release on September 14, 2026. Read the full methodology.

Quick answers

Dallas Mavericks ranking FAQ

Who is the greatest Dallas Mavericks player of all time?

Within this NBA regular-season ranking, which begins in 1980–81, Dirk Nowitzki ranks first with 6,053.1 Franchise Value produced for this franchise.

Who had the best single season in this ranking?

Luka Dončić has the highest team-season value in this dataset: 646.9 in 2023–24. He ranked No. 3 in leaguewide Impact Rate that season.

How are the top 25 ranked?

The order is total regular-season Franchise Value, which adds up value above replacement produced for this franchise. More value ranks higher.

Which earlier team names and locations are included?

Covers every Dallas Mavericks NBA season.

Keep exploring

Greatest players for every NBA team

Move from this franchise to any of the other 29 current NBA teams, or compare these players with the leaguewide career ranking.

Leaguewide all-time rankingsCurrent NBA team power rankingsDirk Nowitzki’s full career profile