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2011 NBA Finals: Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki & the Dallas Mavericks

*Originally published on Suite101.com in 2011. 

In the 1990s, the Dallas Mavericks were supposed to build the franchise around Jason Kidd.  Instead, the rebirth of the Dallas Mavericks revolved around Dirk Nowitzki.

The Dallas Mavericks began franchise operations in 1980.  Despite a holdout and refusal to play for the team by first draft pick Kiki Vandeweghe, the Dallas Mavericks had a good run in their initial years.  The team built up a strong core with draft picks other than Vandeweghe, obtaining Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, Sam Perkins, Derek Harper, Roy Tarpley, and Detlef Schrempf.  After 3 years of sub-.500 records, former NBA Coach of the Year Dick Motta, as well as coaches John MacLeod and Richie Adubato, helped lead the Mavericks to six playoff appearances in seven years during the 1980s.  This included an appearance in the 1988 NBA Western Conference Finals.  However, the team then fell to NBA Draft Lottery status with consecutive losing seasons in the 1990s. 

The Three J’s: Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn & Jimmy Jackson

The Dallas Mavericks turned back to the NBA Draft in hopes of restoring franchise pride.  Initially, guard Jim Jackson caused problems by holding out after being selected by the Mavericks in the 1992 NBA Draft.  However, he eventually signed, with the Mavericks landing two other potential franchise cornerstones by drafting forward Jamal Mashburn in the 1993 NBA Draft and point guard Jason Kidd in the 1994 NBA Draft.  In 1994-1995, Kidd, Mashburn, and Jackson helped lead the team to a respectable 36-46 record, with Kidd being named co-NBA Rookie of the Year.  However, even the return of Dick Motta as Head Coach was not enough to hold the core group together for more than a couple years.  After Mashburn lost most of the 1995-1996 NBA season to knee surgery and the Three J’s continued to struggle to work well together, all three were traded away, ending the hopes of restoring franchise pride with these potential franchise cornerstones.  

The New Big Three: Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki & Michael Finley

In trading Jason Kidd and others, the Dallas Mavericks obtained guard/forward Michael Finley as one of the franchise’s new cornerstones.  Next, Don Nelson joined the Dallas Mavericks as General Manager and eventually took over for Jim Cleamons as Head Coach.  In the process, Don Nelson traded Jamal Mashburn and Jim Jackson in multiplayer trades, helping the Mavericks acquire role players such as center Shawn Bradley and forward/center Kurt Thomas.  Then, Don Nelson and the Dallas Mavericks found two other new cornerstones during the 1998 NBA Draft.  The team acquired rookie forward/center Dirk Nowitzki and young point guard Steve Nash via draft-day trades.  After a couple years of sub-.500 basketball, the Dallas Mavericks began a streak of eleven consecutive playoff appearances as of this season (2010-2011), including a loss in the 2003 Western Conference Finals. 

2006 NBA Finals: Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat

Unfortunately, the Dallas Mavericks lost point guard Steve Nash via free agency in 2004.  To compensate, the Mavericks acquired rookie point guard Devin Harris from the Washington Wizards and young guard Jason Terry from the Atlanta Hawks.  Then, Avery Johnson took over as Head Coach in mid-season, with Michael Finley leaving the Mavericks after a second round loss in the 2005 NBA Playoffs.  Yet, Dirk Nowitzki remained a cornerstone for the Dallas Mavericks.  With Avery Johnson coaching Nowitzki, Terry, and Harris, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, and Phoenix Suns—with Michael Finley on the Spurs and NBA MVP Steve Nash on the Suns—en route to the 2006 NBA Finals.  Despite a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA Finals, Nowitzki and the Mavericks fell 4-2 to the Miami Heat, who were led by returned Head Coach/General Manager Pat Riley, guard Dwyane Wade, and center Shaquille O’Neal.  Furthermore, former Mavericks forward Antoine Walker served as the Miami Heat’s third-leading scorer in the Heat’s 2006 NBA Playoffs run.

Jason Kidd Returns to the Dallas Mavericks

After former Mavericks forward Antoine Walker helped the Miami Heat defeat the Dallas Mavericks in 2006, Dirk Nowitzki helped the Mavericks earn the best record in the NBA during the 2006-2007 NBA season.  For his efforts, Nowitzki was named 2006-2007 NBA MVP.  However, more pain would be felt in the playoffs, as former Mavericks Head Coach/General Manager Don Nelson helped the Golden State Warriors upset the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA Playoffs.  Recognizing the need for the Mavericks to stay atop the Western Conference and capitalize on the prime years of the careers of Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, President Donnie Nelson (son of Don Nelson) turned his attention to Jason Kidd.  In February 2008, the Dallas Mavericks traded cornerstone point guard Devin Harris to reacquire former cornerstone point guard Jason Kidd.  With that, Jason Kidd returned to the place he had hoped to lead to the NBA Championship during the 1990s.  

After a first round loss in the 2008 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks hired Rick Carlisle as their new Head Coach.  The Mavericks also managed to bring in key young players such as J.J. Barea and Rodrigue Beaubois and recruited displaced veterans such as Shawn Marion, Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler, Brendan Haywood, DeShawn Stevenson, and Peja Stojakovic—none of whom have won the NBA Championship.  With these role players, along with cornerstones Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd and coach Rick Carlisle, the Dallas Mavericks find themselves back in the NBA Finals, playing in the 2011 NBA Finals against either the Miami Heat (who defeated them for the 2005-2006 NBA Championship) or the Chicago Bulls.  With a team full of people seeking redemption, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry hope to capture their first NBA Championship alongside Jason Kidd, of whom the Dallas Mavericks hoped would close all the gaps 17 years ago.      

Sources:

Basketball-Reference.com.  Accessed May 26, 2011.

Garcia, Art.  “Kidd-napped: Mavs add All-Star point guard Jason Kidd.”  February 19, 2008.  From Mavs.com.  Accessed May 26, 2011. 

“Mavs History.”  From NBA.com.  Accessed May 26, 2011. 

NBA.com.  Accessed May 26, 2011. 

News Wire Services.  “Jason Kidd re-signs with Mavericks, takes money over Knicks.”  The Daily News.  July 6, 2009.  From NYDailyNews.com.  Accessed May 26, 2011.   

Taylor, Phil.  “Agony of D-feat.”  Sports Illustrated.  December 18, 1995.  From SportsIllustrated.com.  Accessed May 26, 2011. 

Youngmisuk, Ohm.  “Jason excited about teaming with Vince, RJ.”  The Daily News.  November 1, 2005.  From NYDailyNews.com.  Accessed May 26, 2011.  

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