{"id":141730,"date":"2025-05-26T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T14:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=141730"},"modified":"2025-07-15T08:55:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:55:22","slug":"10-best-nba-draft-picks-in-dallas-mavericks-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/26\/10-best-nba-draft-picks-in-dallas-mavericks-history\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Dallas Mavericks History"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with just a 1.8% chance<\/a> of nabbing the first pick. They bucked the odds by winning the lottery and will likely select Cooper Flagg<\/a> with their top selection in June. Let\u2019s take a look at the Mavericks best NBA Draft picks in team history. It\u2019s not necessarily the 10 best players ranked in order as where they were selected was taken into consideration. Keep in mind, both Dirk Nowitzki<\/a> and Luka Doncic<\/a> were acquired in draft day deals, and thus were not selected by Dallas. Someone like Detlef Schrempf<\/a> had a great career, but he became more productive after leaving the Mavericks.<\/p>\n

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May 14, 2025; Chicago, Il, USA; Cooper Flagg talks to the media during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Marriott Marquis Chicago. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Dallas Mavericks History<\/h2>\n

10. Jim Jackson (4th overall, 1992)<\/h3>\n

Much like the next guy on this list and his former teammate, Jim Jackson<\/a> put together strong scoring games nearly each time on the court for Dallas. That was particularly true in 1994-95 when he averaged 25.7 points in 51 outings. Jackson was traded by the Mavericks midway through his fifth year in the league.<\/p>\n

9. Jamal Mashburn (4th overall, 1993)<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s hard to put Jamal Mashburn<\/a> higher due to the fact he was traded midway through just his fourth season. While the Mavericks teams that he was on weren\u2019t very good, he scored the ball at a high rate. During the 1994-95 season, Mashburn averaged 24.1 points in 80 games.<\/p>\n

8. Sam Perkins (4th overall, 1984)<\/h3>\n

Sam Perkins<\/a> played his first six years with the Mavericks, and they reached the playoffs in all but one of them. He started all 17 games for Dallas in the 1988 NBA Playoffs where they fell just one win short of reaching the NBA Finals. In his Dallas tenure, he put together solid averages of 14.4 points and 8.0 rebounds.<\/p>\n

7. Jay Vincent (24th overall, 1981)<\/h3>\n

After being utilized as a full-time starter his first two years, Jay Vincent<\/a> transitioned into one of the more productive reserve players in his last three seasons with Dallas. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1981-82 when he averaged 21.4 points and 7.0 rebounds. In 1984-85, Vincent had a fifth-place finish in Sixth Man of the Year honors.<\/p>\n

6. Jalen Brunson (33rd overall, 2018)<\/h3>\n

While Jalen Brunson<\/a> took his game to a whole other level with the New York Knicks, it was also seen towards the end of his Dallas tenure. He had a 41-point and two 31-point outings during the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Brunson shot just shy of 50% from the field in his four seasons for the Mavericks.<\/p>\n

5. Josh Howard (29th overall, 2003)<\/h3>\n

Named an All-Star in 2006-07, Josh Howard<\/a> was also the starting small forward during the Mavericks 2006 NBA Finals run. He played six full seasons for Dallas before being traded in his seventh. In his last three years for the team, Howard averaged at least 18 points.<\/p>\n

4. Mark Aguirre (1st overall, 1981)<\/h3>\n

Many people believe Mark Aguirre<\/a> should be in the Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a>. While his two titles came with the Detroit Pistons, Aguirre was one of the game\u2019s top scorers with Dallas. He made three All-Star teams with the franchise and averaged 24.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.<\/p>\n

3. Derek Harper (11th overall, 1983)<\/h3>\n

The Mavericks all-time leader in assists and steals, Derek Harper<\/a> played 872 regular season (and 48 postseason) games with the team. Twice, he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team. For four straight seasons (1987-88 until 1990-91), Harper averaged at least 17 points, seven assists, and 1.9 steals.<\/p>\n

2. Rolando Blackman (9th overall, 1981)<\/h3>\n

An excellent scorer, Rolando Blackman<\/a> played his first 11 seasons with Dallas. In that time, he was named an All-Star four times and averaged over 20 points in three different seasons. His 16,643 points in a Mavericks uniform are the second-most in team history.<\/p>\n

1. Jason Kidd (2nd overall, 1994)<\/h3>\n

While just 500 of his career 1,391 games were played with Dallas, Jason Kidd<\/a> is atop the list. He was named co-Rookie of the Year along with Grant Hill<\/a> in 1994-95. In his second tenure with the team, he was an All-Star in 2009-10 and helped the franchise win their first championship in 2011. The Basketball Hall of Famer recorded 21 triple-doubles in a Mavericks uniform.<\/p>\n

Other 10 best NBA draft picks<\/strong><\/p>\n