DALLASMAVERICKS

The Dallas Mavericks joined the NBA in 1980-81 and quickly became a competitive franchise. With premium draft selections the team steadily improved through the 1980s-Dallas looked like a team of the future. Then in the early 1990s the Mavericks experienced one of the most precipitous declines in NBA history. The team's descent was so complete that it twice threatened the worst single-season record ever recorded. But with a solid core of young, talented players, the Mavericks were able to climb to the top and today are recognized as one of the best teams in the NBA.

Before welcoming the Mavericks in 1980, Dallas had been home to the Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1967-68 to 1972-73. On March 26, 1973, the Chaparrals played the Carolina Cougars in the last ABA game played at Dallas Memorial Auditorium-the paid attendance was 134. The next season the Chaparrals became the San Antonio Spurs, and for the next seven years Dallas was without a professional basketball franchise.

The Dallas Mavericks played their first home game in the American Airlines Center against the Detroit Pistons on October 30th 2001. To view the list of Mavericks first click here.

How The Mavericks Were Named

In March 1980, radio station WBAP conducted a "Name the Team" contest. More than 4,600 entries were received and turned over to a five-person committee. The committee narrowed the choices to Mavericks, Wranglers and Express, ultimately recommending Mavericks to owner Donald Carter. All 41 persons who suggested the name Mavericks were given two tickets to the charter season opener and in a drawing of those 41, Carla Springer was awarded a pair of season tickets.

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