Dallas started life at 15-67 and needed until 1983-84 to post a winning record, and the scorers it drafted in 1981 drove that climb. This team starts from 26-56 at 0-1 with Cooper Flagg in the same role, and it is short on bigs heading into Indiana.
The Expansion Blueprint Holds
Dallas opened at Reunion Arena by beating the Spurs 103-92 and then lost 67 times. The fix came through the draft. The 1981 class brought Mark Aguirre, who averaged 24.6 points over seven years, and Rolando Blackman, who averaged 19.2 over eleven. Within three seasons Dallas went 43-39 and Aguirre made his first All-Star team. The front office has bet on the same formula with Flagg. He averaged 21.0 points in 33.5 minutes over 70 games as a rookie, and the club picked up his third-year option. The difference is that the shot has to come along. Flagg hit 29.5 percent from three last season, and a lead scorer at that mark lets defenses sag.
Big Men Decide Climbs Here
James Donaldson became the first Mavericks center named an All-Star, in 1988. His ruptured patella tendon in March 1989 preceded a decline, and Dallas went without another winning season until 2001. Frontcourt health still sets this team's ceiling. Dereck Lively II is out with a right foot issue, with a return estimated for October 26. Santi Aldama's right knee keeps him out until at least October 24. That has pushed Moussa Cisse to 26.0 minutes a night over the last five games, nearly double his earlier workload. Pascal Siakam scored 24.0 a night for Indiana last season, so Cisse and Daniel Gafford will have to hold up at the rim.
October 23 Has Gone Well
Dallas is 2-1 on this date in recent seasons. It beat Washington 108-100 in 2019 and won 103-95 at Toronto in 2021, and Golden State routed it 133-103 in 2017. Tonight it plays at Indiana, a team that went 19-63 last season and is 1-0 now. Tomorrow the Spurs come to Dallas, the opponent the franchise beat in its first-ever game. Max Christie's 40.4 percent from three last season is the cleanest shot on the roster, and he has to get those looks while the bigs are out.
When did the Mavericks first have a winning season?
Dallas went 43-39 in 1983-84, its fourth season. That was also the franchise's first playoff appearance.
Who did the Mavericks play in their first ever game?
Dallas beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-92 at Reunion Arena to open the 1980-81 season. The Spurs visit Dallas on October 24.
