Jurist Co Founded Memphis

Jurist Co Founded Memphis

Jurist Co Founded Memphis

The Dallas Mavericks began franchise operations in 1980. Despite a holdout and refusal to play for the team by their first draft pick Kiki Vandeweghe, the 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 three 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 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.