Dirk Nowitzki is one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. The former Dallas Mavericks [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nba/dallas-mavericks/] was one of the most elegant big men to ever play the game of basketball. Nowitzki is fondly remembered in the NBA as a ‘Gentle Giant’, a smiling 7’0″ player who could play the opposition off by himself on his best day. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban at the farewell home game for Dirk Nowitzki [https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1136087006.jpg]10 April 2019, US, Dallas: Basketball: NBA, Main Round, 81st Matchday, Dallas Mavericks – Phoenix Suns at Amercian Airlines Center. Marc Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and Dirk Nowitzki after his last home game. Photo: Philipp Hülsmann/dpa (Photo by Philipp Hülsmann/picture alliance via Getty Images) But Nowitzki was so much more than that. JJ Barea spoke to JJ Reddick for his podcast [https://youtu.be/Zs8i_3HvL3Q?t=1910]. Barea revealed that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Heat [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nba/miami-heat/] made Dirk angry by mocking him with a cough. Nowitzki was coughing earlier due to his recovery from illness. Further, the mockery from James and Wade pushed him to perform better. He said, “But when LeBron and Wade started making fun of him by coughing when he got a little sick, that clip really hurt. He would never say it, but that tape really hurt him. That gave him a little bit extra that he didn’t need, to finish him off.” DIRK NOWITZKI IS AN ALL-TIME GREAT Nowitzki used their mockery as motivation to play his best basketball. In the series, Nowitzki led the underdog Dallas Mavericks to win against the Miami Heat. Nowitzki took on the ‘Big Three’ of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, who was heavily favored to win the NBA championship that season. While most analysts pointed to James’ poor performances, it was Nowitzki’s excellent play that got the Mavericks their NBA championship. For Nowitzki, winning the NBA championship solidified his legacy as one of the greatest European players to ever play in the NBA. He, along with players such as Tony Parker showed how well the European game could translate to the NBA. Nowitzki was a veteran when he won his first and only NBA championship in 2011. He had a chance to get his first ring in 2006, but was thwarted by none other than Miami Heat. The newly formed duo of Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal allowed the Heat to win the NBA championship over the Dallas Mavericks. However, Nowitzki still remains one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. His legacy will always remain intact, and his career will go down as one of the best ever. 

Dirk Nowitzki is a Dallas Mavericks legend. One former teammate revealed the
former MVP hated LeBron James and Dwyane Wade for mocking him.

Aaditya Krishnamurthy is an NBA & NFL journalist for EssentiallySports, before
which he worked at BusinessWorld magazine. He has been a fan of Basketball for
over 10 years now, since Shaquille O’Neal was a Phoenix Suns player. During his
time at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, he started a sports magazine for the
college called the Overtime Tribune and hosted the Overtime Tribune Podcast
until he graduated. He still makes sporadic appearances on the show. During his
undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts with a focus on International Relations, he
wrote a thesis titled 'The Impact of Domestic and International Politics on
Sports, Events, Organizations and Franchises'. When he isn’t writing about
basketball or football, he is furthering his NBA MyCareer, attempting to surpass
Bill Russell for rings in the game. He staunchly believes that Derrick Rose
would be a Top-3 player today had he not gotten injured.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Aaditya_Krishnamurthy.png

Aaditya Krishnamurthy

figcaption

figure

iframe

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TNT Blunder Only to Leave Shocking Gifts

<h2><b>History</b></h2>
The Dallas Mavericks were founded in 1980 as an expansion team in the NBA. However, there were initial doubts when the proposal to add a new team was made in 1978. At the time, the league was in a tight spot with 18 of the 22 teams losing money the previous season. Furthermore, Texas already had the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets. This caused reluctance in forming a new team in Dallas. Despite this, former commissioner Larry O'Brien announced the expansion during the 1978-79 All-Star game. Also, league owners voted in favor of admitting a new team.

<img class="size-full wp-image-421800 aligncenter" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20201024214720/1200px-Dallas_Mavericks_logo.svg.png" alt="" width="1200" height="1248" />

The team name Mavericks was chosen from a fan contest. The name was inspired by the TV series <em>Maverick.</em> Interestingly, James Garner, the lead role of the TV show was a member of the ownership group. The Mavs hired former NBA champion head coach Dick Motta as their first head coach. The team drafted Kiki VanDeWeghe of UCLA with the 11th pick of the 1980 NBA draft. Notably, VanDeWeghe refused to play for the team and was then traded.

Ever since the Mavericks were founded, they were on a vicious cycle of rebuilding and tearing down in an attempt to win a championship. The team saw a change in ownership in 2000 with Mark Cuban. The billionaire's arrival brought a newfound energy to the franchise. After losing the Finals in 2006, the franchise won its first title in 2011.
<h2><b>Who is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks?</b></h2>
Mark Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks. The businessman reportedly purchased the team for $285 million in 2000 from previous owner H. Ross Perot Jr. Cuban was a long-time fan of the team and was a season ticket holder. The billionaire even revealed that he decided to buy the team after watching the 1999 home opener. Cuban could not believe the game was not sold out and felt he could make the team better and improve the sale of tickets.

[caption id="attachment_1056414" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1056414 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/106863870-1617672478225-gettyimages-1182566971-cr9p3181_2019111491800665_20191115111219.jpeg" alt="Mark Cuban" width="1920" height="1280" /> Credits: Mike Stobe | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images[/caption]

He certainly made the Mavs better on and off the court. In terms of league success, the Mavericks started consistently making the playoffs after his arrival and eventually won a ring in 2011. On the business side of things, he helped popularise the team and made good profits over the years which helped increase its value. Forbes currently values the Mavs at $3.3 billion.
<h2><b>Who is the Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks?</b></h2>
Dallas Mavericks legend Jason Kidd is the current head coach of the Mavs. He became the head coach of his former team in 2021. Notably, this is his third stint with the Mavericks. The team selected Kidd as the second overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft. The point guard impressed everyone with his passing abilities and was the Rookie of the Year along with Grant Hill. After three seasons, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

In the years that followed, Kidd became one of the best playmakers in the league and led the NBA in assists on five occasions. After five years in Phoenix and seven years with the New Jersey Nets, Kidd returned to the Mavs in 2008. He was at the tail end of his career and his scoring average had gone down. However, his assist numbers were still great and helped the team massively. Kidd was an important piece of the Mavs team that clinched the title in 2011. After five seasons from 2007 to 2012, Kidd was traded to the New York Knicks where he finished his playing career after one year.

Kidd was assigned the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 immediately after retiring. However, the Nets parted ways after one season. The Milwaukee Bucks announced Kidd as the head coach in 2014. After four seasons, the Bucks fired him. He was hired as an assistant coach by the Los Angeles Lakers under Frank Vogel. Kidd won his first title as an assistant coach for the Lakers in 2020 before becoming the head coach of the Mavericks in 2021.
<h2><b>Team Sponsors</b></h2>
The Dallas Mavericks reportedly signed a multi-year jersey patch sponsorship deal with Chime in 2020. American Airlines obtained the naming rights of the Mavs' stadium in 1999 for a reported $150 million. Some of the other major sponsors of the franchise are Voyager, Jackpocket, Therabody, Betway, DoorDash, etc.
<h2><b>Dallas Mavericks Roster</b></h2>
<table style="height: 734px" width="435">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Luka Doncic</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Point Guard</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">24</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Kyrie Irving</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Point Guard</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">31</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Tim Hardaway Jr. </span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Small Forward</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">31</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Davis Bertans</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Small Forward</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">30</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Christian Wood</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Forward</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">27</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Dwight Powell</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Center</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">31</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Reggie Bullock</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Small Forward</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">32</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Maxi Kleber</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Power Forward</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">31</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">JaVale McGee</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Center</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">35</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Josh Green</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Shooting Guard</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">22</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Frank Ntilikina</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Point Guard</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">24</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Theo Pinson</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Guard</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">27</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><b>Achievements and Wins</b></h2>
The Dallas Mavericks started their time in the NBA with a debut win against the San Antonio Spurs in the 1980-81 opener. However, the team finished their first season with a poor 15–67 record. The team slowly built momentum in the next couple of years and made the playoffs in the 1983-84 season with the help of stars like Mark Aguirre, Jay Vincent, and Rolando Blackman. They were, however, eliminated in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavs consistently made the playoffs in the next few seasons and won their first division title in 1987. They also made the Western Conference Finals that year but were beaten by the Lakers again.

After decent performances in the next two seasons, the Mavs had a huge drought of ten years without playoff basketball from 1990 to 2000. With the acquisition of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash in 1998 and the arrival of Mark Cuban in 2000, the Mavs were revived. The team started making the playoffs and made some deep runs. Mavs then reached the 2005-06 NBA Finals and were favorites to win the title against the Miami Heat. The Mavericks took a 2-0 series lead, but the Heat came back strong and won the next four games to clinch the championship. This was a massive blow to the franchise and its fans around the world.

[caption id="attachment_316436" align="aligncenter" width="2000"]<img class="wp-image-316436 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200716203537/ap_clippers_mavericks_2417475.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1532" /> Dallas Mavericks guard Steve Nash (13), from Canada, and forward Dirk Nowitzki (41), from Germany, celebrate a basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of their game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004 in Dallas. Dallas won 116-91. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam) ORG XMIT: DNA103[/caption]

The Mavs continued their playoff appearances in the next few years and again reached the ultimate stage in the 2010-11 season. They went up against familiar foes, the Miami Heat. However, the tables were turned this time around with the Heat being the heavy favorites with the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. On the other hand, the Mavs were an aging squad with Dirk 32, Jason Terry 33, Jason Kidd 32, Shawn Marion 32, and so forth. However, the Mavs were out for revenge. The teams won alternative games and it was 2-2 after four games. The Mavericks won the next two games to win their first-ever title against all odds. Nowitzki was named the Finals MVP for his inspirational performances.

This was followed by a few years of playoff disappointments and a few years of no playoffs. The Mavericks then started to rebuild and acquired superstar Luka Doncic in the 2018 draft from the Atlanta Hawks via trade. Doncic hit the ground running and led the team to their fourth division title in 2021 when they lost the WCF against the Golden State Warriors.
<h2><b>Legendary Players and Coaches</b></h2>
The Mavericks have had many legendary players and coaches on their team over the years. The franchise has so far retired the jerseys of players like Brad Davis (15), Rolando Blackman (22), Derek Harper (12), and Dirk Nowitzki (41). Some of the other superstars to have donned the Mavs' uniform and had a great impact are Mark Aguirre, Michael Finley, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Jason Terry, Luka Doncic and so forth. The Mavericks have been under the leadership of some legendary head coaches like Don Nelson, Avery Johnson, and Rick Carlisle.
<h2><b>Dallas Mavericks’ Rivals </b></h2>
The Mavericks have a fierce rivalry with the Miami Heat because of their clashes in the NBA Finals. While Miami took the first one, the Mavs had their revenge when the teams faced each other for the second time. Even though the rivalry has died down in recent years since the teams are from different Conferences, both teams don't give an inch when they face during the regular season.

Another major rival of the Mavs is the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavs and Lakers have battled in the playoffs on four occasions and the Lakers have won thrice including a WCF. The Mavs finally came out on top against their rivals by sweeping them on their way to the ring in 2011.

[caption id="attachment_1451725" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1451725 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-01-13T032651Z_958761769_MT1USATODAY19778471_RTRMADP_3_NBA-DALLAS-MAVERICKS-AT-LOS-ANGELES-LAKERS.jpg" alt="Luka Doncic" width="1920" height="1280" /> Jan 12, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Juan Toscano-Anderson (95) and center Thomas Bryant (31) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

The Mavericks also have an intense rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets as all three teams are from Texas. The Spurs and the Mavs have clashed in the playoffs six times. The Spurs have come out victorious on four occasions. The Rockets and the Mavericks have faced each other in the playoffs thrice. The Mavs have won twice.
<h2><b>Dallas Mavericks on Social Media</b></h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dallasmavs/?hl=en"><span style="font-weight: 400">@dallasmavs</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td><a href="https://twitter.com/dallasmavs"><span style="font-weight: 400">@dallasmavs</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dallasmavs/"><span style="font-weight: 400">@dallasmavs</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Website</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.mavs.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400">https://www.mavs.com/</span></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
<table style="height: 673px" width="506">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Founded </span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">1980</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Owner</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Mark Cuban</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Conference</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">West</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">General Manager</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Nico Harrison</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Head Coach</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Jason Kidd</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Sponsors</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Chime, American Airlines, Voyager, etc</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Arena</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">American Airlines Center</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Championships</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Conference Titles</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">2</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Division Titles</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">4</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Team Value</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">$3.3 Billion</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: center"></h2>

Dallas Mavericks

History The Dallas Mavericks were founded in 1980 as an expansion team in the NBA. However, there were initial doubts when the proposal to add a new team was made in 1978. At the time, the league was in a tight spot with 18 of the 22 teams losing money the previous season. Furthermore, Texas already had the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets. This caused reluctance in forming a new team in Dallas. Despite this, former commissioner Larry O&#8217;Brien announced the expansion during the 1978-79 All-Star game. Also, league owners voted in favor of admitting a new team. The team name Mavericks was chosen from a fan contest. The name was inspired by the TV series Maverick. Interestingly, James Garner, the lead role of the TV show was a member of the ownership group. The Mavs hired former NBA champion head coach Dick Motta as their first head coach. The team drafted Kiki VanDeWeghe of UCLA with the 11th pick of the 1980 NBA draft. Notably, VanDeWeghe refused to play for the team and was then traded. Ever since the Mavericks were founded, they were on a vicious cycle of rebuilding and tearing down in an attempt to win a championship. The team saw a change in ownership in 2000 with Mark Cuban. The billionaire&#8217;s arrival brought a newfound energy to the franchise. After losing the Finals in 2006, the franchise won its first title in 2011. Who is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks? Mark Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks. The businessman reportedly purchased the team for $285 million in 2000 from previous owner H. Ross Perot Jr. Cuban was a long-time fan of the team and was a season ticket holder. The billionaire even revealed that he decided to buy the team after watching the 1999 home opener. Cuban could not believe the game was not sold out and felt he could make the team better and improve the sale of tickets. Credits: Mike Stobe | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images He certainly made the Mavs better on and off the court. In terms of league success, the Mavericks started consistently making the playoffs after his arrival and eventually won a ring in 2011. On the business side of things, he helped popularise the team and made good profits over the years which helped increase its value. Forbes currently values the Mavs at $3.3 billion. Who is the Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks? Dallas Mavericks legend Jason Kidd is the current head coach of the Mavs. He became the head coach of his former team in 2021. Notably, this is his third stint with the Mavericks. The team selected Kidd as the second overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft. The point guard impressed everyone with his passing abilities and was the Rookie of the Year along with Grant Hill. After three seasons, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. In the years that followed, Kidd became one of the best playmakers in the league and led the NBA in assists on five occasions. After five years in Phoenix and seven years with the New Jersey Nets, Kidd returned to the Mavs in 2008. He was at the tail end of his career and his scoring average had gone down. However, his assist numbers were still great and helped the team massively. Kidd was an important piece of the Mavs team that clinched the title in 2011. After five seasons from 2007 to 2012, Kidd was traded to the New York Knicks where he finished his playing career after one year. Kidd was assigned the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 immediately after retiring. However, the Nets parted ways after one season. The Milwaukee Bucks announced Kidd as the head coach in 2014. After four seasons, the Bucks fired him. He was hired as an assistant coach by the Los Angeles Lakers under Frank Vogel. Kidd won his first title as an assistant coach for the Lakers in 2020 before becoming the head coach of the Mavericks in 2021. Team Sponsors The Dallas Mavericks reportedly signed a multi-year jersey patch sponsorship deal with Chime in 2020. American Airlines obtained the naming rights of the Mavs&#8217; stadium in 1999 for a reported $150 million. Some of the other major sponsors of the franchise are Voyager, Jackpocket, Therabody, Betway, DoorDash, etc. Dallas Mavericks Roster  Luka Doncic Point Guard 24  Kyrie Irving Point Guard 31  Tim Hardaway Jr.  Small Forward 31  Davis Bertans Small Forward 30  Christian Wood Forward 27  Dwight Powell Center 31  Reggie Bullock Small Forward 32  Maxi Kleber Power Forward 31  JaVale McGee Center 35  Josh Green Shooting Guard 22  Frank Ntilikina Point Guard 24  Theo Pinson Guard 27  Achievements and Wins The Dallas Mavericks started their time in the NBA with a debut win against the San Antonio Spurs in the 1980-81 opener. However, the team finished their first season with a poor 15–67 record. The team slowly built momentum in the next couple of years and made the playoffs in the 1983-84 season with the help of stars like Mark Aguirre, Jay Vincent, and Rolando Blackman. They were, however, eliminated in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavs consistently made the playoffs in the next few seasons and won their first division title in 1987. They also made the Western Conference Finals that year but were beaten by the Lakers again. After decent performances in the next two seasons, the Mavs had a huge drought of ten years without playoff basketball from 1990 to 2000. With the acquisition of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash in 1998 and the arrival of Mark Cuban in 2000, the Mavs were revived. The team started making the playoffs and made some deep runs. Mavs then reached the 2005-06 NBA Finals and were favorites to win the title against the Miami Heat. The Mavericks took a 2-0 series lead, but the Heat came back strong and won the next four games to clinch the championship. This was a massive blow to the franchise and its fans around the world. Dallas Mavericks guard Steve Nash (13), from Canada, and forward Dirk Nowitzki (41), from Germany, celebrate a basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of their game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004 in Dallas. Dallas won 116-91. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam) ORG XMIT: DNA103 The Mavs continued their playoff appearances in the next few years and again reached the ultimate stage in the 2010-11 season. They went up against familiar foes, the Miami Heat. However, the tables were turned this time around with the Heat being the heavy favorites with the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. On the other hand, the Mavs were an aging squad with Dirk 32, Jason Terry 33, Jason Kidd 32, Shawn Marion 32, and so forth. However, the Mavs were out for revenge. The teams won alternative games and it was 2-2 after four games. The Mavericks won the next two games to win their first-ever title against all odds. Nowitzki was named the Finals MVP for his inspirational performances. This was followed by a few years of playoff disappointments and a few years of no playoffs. The Mavericks then started to rebuild and acquired superstar Luka Doncic in the 2018 draft from the Atlanta Hawks via trade. Doncic hit the ground running and led the team to their fourth division title in 2021 when they lost the WCF against the Golden State Warriors. Legendary Players and Coaches The Mavericks have had many legendary players and coaches on their team over the years. The franchise has so far retired the jerseys of players like Brad Davis (15), Rolando Blackman (22), Derek Harper (12), and Dirk Nowitzki (41). Some of the other superstars to have donned the Mavs&#8217; uniform and had a great impact are Mark Aguirre, Michael Finley, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Jason Terry, Luka Doncic and so forth. The Mavericks have been under the leadership of some legendary head coaches like Don Nelson, Avery Johnson, and Rick Carlisle. Dallas Mavericks’ Rivals  The Mavericks have a fierce rivalry with the Miami Heat because of their clashes in the NBA Finals. While Miami took the first one, the Mavs had their revenge when the teams faced each other for the second time. Even though the rivalry has died down in recent years since the teams are from different Conferences, both teams don&#8217;t give an inch when they face during the regular season. Another major rival of the Mavs is the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavs and Lakers have battled in the playoffs on four occasions and the Lakers have won thrice including a WCF. The Mavs finally came out on top against their rivals by sweeping them on their way to the ring in 2011. Jan 12, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Juan Toscano-Anderson (95) and center Thomas Bryant (31) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The Mavericks also have an intense rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets as all three teams are from Texas. The Spurs and the Mavs have clashed in the playoffs six times. The Spurs have come out victorious on four occasions. The Rockets and the Mavericks have faced each other in the playoffs thrice. The Mavs have won twice. Dallas Mavericks on Social Media  Instagram @dallasmavs  Twitter @dallasmavs  Facebook @dallasmavs  Website https://www.mavs.com/  &nbsp;  Founded  1980  Owner Mark Cuban  Conference West  General Manager Nico Harrison  Head Coach Jason Kidd  Sponsors Chime, American Airlines, Voyager, etc  Arena American Airlines Center  Championships 1  Conference Titles 2  Division Titles 4  Team Value $3.3 Billion

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Dirk Nowitzki

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LeBron James

Who is LeBron James? LeBron James is widely considered to be one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball. Born in Akron, James spent the majority of his professional career with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers, winning multiple NBA championships and earning numerous accolades along the way. Dec 7, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA In Season Tournament Semifinal at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports &nbsp; Known for his exceptional all-around game, James is a four-time MVP and has been selected to the All-Star team a record 18 times. LeBron James&#8217; early life LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. James started playing basketball at a young age, showing great potential. He soon became one of the best high school basketball players in the country. James graduated from St. Vincent&#8217;s St. Mary High School and declared for the NBA draft in 2003. James led St. Vincent&#8217;s St. Mary to three state championships in four years. With Keith Dambrot and Dru Joyce II coaching the side for two years each, the Fighting Irish had a record of 101 victories and 6 losses during James&#8217; time. LeBron James&#8217; wife and children LeBron James was raised by his mother Gloria James, who struggled to make ends meet as a single mother. Not much is known about James&#8217; biological father Anthony McClelland, who was largely absent from LeBron&#8217;s life during his childhood. He is also reported to have criminal records to his name. James has been in a relationship with his high school sweetheart Savannah since his teenage years. The couple tied the knot on September 14, 2013. Savannah James has indulged in several business ventures over the years and is also a noted philanthropist. She has also established a mentorship program for young women. LeBron and Savannah have three children together: Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri James. Both Bronny and Bryce are following in their father&#8217;s footsteps to become basketball stars. In December 2023, Bronny made his long-awaited collegiate debut with the USC Trojans, less than five months after suffering cardiac arrest in July. LeBron James&#8217; net worth 2024 LeBron James has an estimated net worth of $1 billion, according to recent reports. James is the first active NBA star to achieve this feat. The four-time NBA champion signed a two-year $97.1 million contract extension with theÂ Los Angeles Lakers last year. As per reports, James has earned around $387 million in salaries in his 20-year NBA career so far. Furthermore, he has also made a fortune with his endorsement deals and investments, which have helped him build his massive business empire. LeBron James&#8217; NBA career timeline TheÂ Cleveland Cavaliers selected hometown boy LeBron James as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. James was a superstar straight out of high school and took the league by storm. He played for the Cavaliers from 2003 to 2010 in his first stint and won MVP awards in 2009 and 2010. Even though the Akron Hammer was almost unstoppable on the court and won many individual accolades, team success was hard to come by. Bilder des Tages &#8211; SPORT NBA Playoffs, Cleveland Cavaliers &#8211; Indiana Pacers April 25, 2018 &#8211; Cleveland, OH, USA &#8211; The Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James celebrates a basket and foul in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The Cleveland Cavaliers won, 98-95, for a 3-2 lead in the first-round NBA Basketball Herren USA playoff series. Game 5: Indiana at Cleveland &#8211; ZUMAm67_ 20180425_zaf_m67_043 Copyright: xLeahxKlafczynskix James then left the Cavs and took his talents to theÂ Miami Heat in 2010. He received major backlash from Cavs fans after this move. However, he continued his dominance, alongside superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for the Heat, and clinched his first NBA title in 2012, followed by another in 2013. He also won the NBA MVP award and the Finals MVP award in 2012 and 2013. The estranged son then returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and took the team to four straight NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. He helped the Cavs win their first-ever NBA title in 2016. James once again left the Cavs, this time to join the Los Angeles Lakers, in 2018 and led them to the 2020 NBA title.Â  Following the retirements of Udonis Haslem and Andre Iguodala, LeBron James is currently the oldest player in the league. On the 21st of November 2023, James became the first player in league history to reach 39,000 career points. Six days later, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&#8217;s record of 66,300 minutes to become the player with the most minutes played in NBA games during the regular season and playoffs. LeBron James contracts Here&#8217;s a breakdown of LeBron James&#8217; contracts and earnings throughout his NBA career:  Year Team Salary    2023-24 Los Angeles Lakers $47,607,350  2022-23 Los Angeles Lakers $44,474,988  2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers $41,180,544  2020-21 Los Angeles Lakers $39,219,566  2019/20 Los Angeles Lakers $37,436,858 ($37,678,600*)  2018/19 Los Angeles Lakers $35,654,150 ($36,475,929*)  2017/18 Cleveland Cavaliers $33,285,709 ($35,030,744*)  2016/17 Cleveland Cavaliers $30,963,450 ($33,119,038*)  2015/16 Cleveland Cavaliers $22,970,500 ($24,814,681*)  2014/15 Cleveland Cavaliers $20,644,400 ($22,329,434*)  2013/14 Miami Heat $19,067,500 ($21,051,220*)  2012/13 Miami Heat $17,545,000 ($19,710,161*)  2011/12 Miami Heat $16,022,500 ($18,299,290*)  2010/11 Miami Heat $14,500,000 ($17,149,801*)  2009/10 Cleveland Cavaliers $15,779,912 ($18,860,203*)  2008/09 Cleveland Cavaliers $14,410,581 ($16,977,833*)  2007/08 Cleveland Cavaliers $13,041,250 ($16,136,130*)  2006/07 Cleveland Cavaliers $5,828,090 ($7,404,948*)  2005/06 Cleveland Cavaliers $4,621,800 ($6,125,892*)  2004/05 Cleveland Cavaliers $4,320,360 ($5,871,248*)  2003/04 Cleveland Cavaliers $4,018,920 ($5,639,986*)   &nbsp; LeBron James&#8217; NBA career stats Regular season games played &#8211; 1467 Regular season points per game &#8211; 27.1 Regular season rebounds per game &#8211; 7.5 Regular season assists per game &#8211; 7.3 Playoff games played &#8211; 282 Postseason points per game &#8211; 28.5 Postseason rebounds per game &#8211; 9 Postseason assists per game &#8211; 7.2 LeBron James&#8217; investments and endorsements Some of the biggest brands endorsed by LeBron James are as follows: Nike McDonald&#8217;s Blaze Pizza Beats Electronics Sprite Upper Deck State Farm Insurance Audemars Piguet Dunkin&#8217; Donuts Samsung Kia Verizon Intel Lobos 1707 LeBron James has made some very smart investments over the years, which have helped him substantially. Two of James&#8217; most important investments are Blaze Pizza and the English soccer club, Liverpool F.C. LeBron James&#8217; achievements and awards 4Ã— NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020) 4Ã— NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020) 4Ã— NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) 19Ã— NBA All-Star (2005â€“2023) 3Ã— NBA All-Star Game MVP (2006, 2008, 2018) 13Ã— All-NBA First Team (2006, 2008â€“2018, 2020) 3Ã— All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2007, 2021) 3Ã— All-NBA Third Team (2019, 2022, 2023) 5Ã— NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009â€“2013) NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014) NBA Rookie of the Year (2004) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2004) NBA scoring champion (2008) NBA assists leader (2020) NBA 75th Anniversary Team AP Athlete of the Decade (the 2010s) 4Ã— AP Athlete of the Year (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020) 3Ã— Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (2012, 2016, 2020) USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2012) 2Ã— National high school player of the year (2002, 2003) McDonald&#8217;s All-American Game MVP (2003) 2Ã— First-team Parade All-American (2002, 2003) 3Ã— Ohio Mr. Basketball (2001â€“2003) 3x USA Today All-USA First Team (2001-2003) No. 23 retired by St. Vincentâ€“St. Mary LeBron James&#8217; charity and foundation Some of the biggest donations made by LeBron James are to the charities: After-school All-Stars Mohammed Ali: A Force for Change Boys and Girls Club of America Children&#8217;s Defence Fund ONEXONE I Promise School Most of these charities are aimed at helping children and the younger generation. King James is dedicated to providing the youth of America, especially those at risk, the opportunity required to prosper in life with his &#8216;I Promise&#8217; initiative. LeBron James&#8217; rings Over his illustrious 20-year career (and counting), James has won four NBA championships. He has led three different franchises &#8211; the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Los Angeles Lakers &#8211; to NBA titles. James&#8217; first title came in 2012 with the Heat, when he won his first Finals MVP award, followed by a second consecutive title in 2013. After returning to Cleveland in 2014, James delivered on his promise to bring the city its first major sports championship in over 50 years. In 2016, James powered the Cavaliers back from a daunting 3-1 deficit against the record-setting Golden State Warriors in the Finals. James won his 4th championship and NBA Finals MVP award in 2020, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship against his former side, the Miami Heat. LeBron James&#8217; shoe deals LeBron James signed a huge deal with Nike even before he entered the NBA. As James&#8217; superstardom rose, he became one of the most important faces of the brand, with his line of signature shoes, which is in its 20th version now. The four-time NBA MVP signed a lifetime deal with Nike in 2015 for an undisclosed fee. LeBron James&#8217; house LeBron James has reiterated multiple times that he does not spend his hard-earned money without reason. Former teammate Dwyane Wade once revealed that James is one of the cheapest players in the league despite being one of the richest. However, James knows how to spend his fortune in style. And when it comes to where he lives, the King does not compromise. According to reports, LeBron owns multiple properties in California, Ohio, and Miami, that are worth a combined estimated value of $100 million. LeBron James&#8217; car collection LeBron James is known for having an extensive collection of cars, estimated to be worth over $2 million. Some of the standouts include a Chevy Camaro SS, a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, and the Dodge Challenger SRT 392. He also owns a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster, a 720-horsepower V12 supercar. Another notable element of his collection is a Mercedes luxury sedan, the Maybach S650, worth around $200,000. Notably, after teaming up with Shaquille O&#8217;Neal in Cleveland, Shaq gifted LeBron a Rolls Royce Phantom for his 25th birthday. The luxury car goes from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds and is valued at around $505,000. LeBron James&#8217; controversial moments LeBron James has not had any major controversies so far. However, there have been a few questionable moments in his career. James was the centerpiece of controversy during his high school career for accepting gifts. Then his infamous move to the Miami Heat in 2010, announced on national television, stirred up a lot of controversy. James, who is very vocal about his political beliefs, was criticized for his association with Nike because of the brand&#8217;s political stance. Also, his comments on America after Brittney Griner&#8217;s detainment in Russia sparked some controversy. Will LeBron James retire? LeBron James, 39, is currently playing his 21st NBA season in the NBA. The future Hall of Famer is still playing at the highest level, but he is definitely at the tail end of his career. However, the Lakers icon will not retire after the 2023-24 season as he has multiple times opened up about his desire to play alongside his son Bronny James in the league. Bronny will be eligible to declare for the NBA draft next year. So there is a high chance that James may continue playing in the league until his son enters the NBA. LeBron James&#8217; social media accounts  Instagram @kingjames  Twitter @KingJames  Facebook @LeBron James  Website https://www.lebronjames.com/  &nbsp;  Full Name LeBron Raymone James Sr.  Popular Name LeBron James  Birth Date December 30, 1984  Birth Place Akron, Ohio  Height 6&#8242; 9&#8243; (2.06 m)  Weight 250 lbs  Parents Gloria James  Siblings None  Nationality American  Ethnicity African American  Net Worth $1 Billion  Salary $97.1 Million  Spouse Savannah James  Relationship/Marital Status Married  Children Three  Profession Basketball player  Team Los Angeles Lakers

‘That Clip Really Hurt’: Former Mavs Teammate Reveals Why Dirk Nowitzki Hated LeBron James and Dwyane Wade

Dirk Nowitzki is an All-Time great