From the Archives: What 15-67 and 21 Seasons Say About This…

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Saturday, September 26

The Mavericks are 0-0 again, same as their 1980-81 expansion debut that finished 15-67. This time the roster around Dusty May carries a rookie who already outproduced that entire era's patience.

Mavericks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

A Debut Built To Wait

Dallas opened as an expansion team in 1980-81 under Dick Motta and finished 15-67, a rookie season built for patience. The Mavericks did not post a winning record until 1983-84, when they went 43-39 and Mark Aguirre made his first All-Star team. Dusty May's group starts 2026-27 at 0-0 too, but it does not have that same runway sitting next to it: Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick after Dallas won the 2025 lottery, already averaged 21.0 pts, 6.7 reb and 4.5 ast as a 19-year-old rookie last season, a debut no player on that 1980-81 team came close to matching.

The One-Franchise Bar

Dirk Nowitzki played 21 seasons in Dallas, the longest one-team career in NBA history, and delivered the franchise's only championship in 2011. Luka Doncic never reached that number before Dallas sent him to the Lakers in February 2025, bringing back Anthony Davis; Max Christie arrived in that same trade. Flagg, 19 years old with one season of experience, is now the answer to a question Nowitzki set the standard for.

Bigs Then and Now

James Donaldson became the first Mavericks center to make an All-Star Game, in 1988. Dwight Powell joined the roster on September 25, added while Dereck Lively II's own return sits at an estimated October 9. Gafford's group alongside Washington, Williams, Christie and Flagg posted a net +2.2 rating last season, the best mark of any lineup Dallas ran, offense at 116.8 and defense at 114.6.

How many seasons did Dirk Nowitzki play for the Mavericks?

Nowitzki played 21 seasons in Dallas, the longest one-team career in NBA history, and won the franchise's only championship in 2011.

What was the Mavericks' record in their first NBA season?

Dallas went 15-67 in its 1980-81 expansion debut under head coach Dick Motta, then did not post a winning record until 1983-84 at 43-39.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.