With the hype of the offseason coming to an end, I have decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to examine each team’s specific All-NBA First Team. What I mean by this is- following the criteria set by the NBA for the All-NBA Team rules, I will examine and elaborate on my picks for each team’s specific All-NBA First Team.

G- Rolando Blackman: 1981–1992

Rolando Blackman spent his first 11 NBA seasons with the Mavericks and helped them transition from an expansion team into a viable playoff contender. In his 11 seasons with the team, Blackman was for the most part, the team’s second best player behind Mark Aquirre. He helped the Mavericks make their first six playoff appearances, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 1988. Blackman made all four of his All-Star appearances with the Mavericks

Blackman was a fantastic scorer. His 19.2 points per game are the sixth most in franchise history, and his 16,643 points are second behind only Dirk Nowitzki.

G- Michael Finley: 1996–2005

Michael Finley was never the most exciting player to watch nor was he the most dominant player on the court, but what he was, was an efficient player, who in the right role was capable of being a fringe All-Star caliber player. Finley thrived after the arrival of Dirk Nowitzki, playing much more efficient with Nowitzki than without him. Finley made both of his All-Star appearance as a member of the Mavericks.

Finley was a terrific all-around player, making him the perfect fit for the Mavericks “Run-and-Gun” offense of the early 2000s. He could score from inside and outside, defend larger opponents, and his length made him proficient at stripping the ball away from opponents.

F- Mark Aquirre: 1981–1989

Before Dirk Nowitzki, when people thought of the Mavericks they thought of Mark Aquirre. After being drafted first overall in 1981, Aquirre was immediately asked to be the face of the franchise. In his eight seasons in Dallas, the Mavericks made five playoff appearances.

Aquirre spent the prime of his career in Dallas, making all three of his All-Star appearances with the team. He led the team in points and rebounds during his eight-year stretch. His 24.6 points per game is the highest single game average for any Mavericks’ player in their history. His 1983–1984 season should be viewed alongside the likes of Dirk Nowitzki’s MVP season. In that season Aqurire averaged a Mavericks’ record 29.5 points per game and scored a total 2,330 points (a single-season franchise record).

Along side Rolando Blackman, Aquirre flipped the league wide perception of the Mavericks from laughing stock of the league into legitimate playoff contender.

F- Dirk Nowitzki: 1999-Present

When you think of the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki should be the first name that comes to mind. Not only has he been the best player in franchise history, but he also has been one of the 30 best players to ever play the game of basketball. He’s spent his entire career with the Mavericks, leading them to their only NBA championship in 2011. Nowitzki’s 29,491 points is not only the most in Mavericks’ history, but also the seventh most in NBA history. He’s a 13x All-Star and has appeared on 12 All-NBA Teams (4x First Team, 5 Second Team, 3x Third Team).

His best regular season came during the 2006–2007 season, in which he averaged 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He also registered a 50–40–90 season (50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 90 percent from the free throw line). He was awarded with the league MVP.

Nowitzki is the greatest Maverick of all-time and it’s not even close. His 2011 run to the NBA finals is among the most dominant runs by a single player in NBA history.

C- James Donaldson: 1985–1992

Although not a household name among NBA fans, James Donaldson will never be forgotten among Mavericks’ fans. He spent the prime of his career in Dallas, making his only All-Star appearance during his tenure with the team. He nearly averaged a double-double, averaging 8.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

His 4,589 rebounds is the second most in team history. His 11.9 rebounds per game in 1987 is still the highest single game average for any season in Mavericks’ history.