Dirk Nowitzki is the Mavericks’ leader in playoff games played.
The Dallas Mavericks have made the NBA playoffs 25 times in their franchise history and have one NBA title to their name. Let’s highlight their top five all-time leaders in playoff games played.
1. Dirk Nowitzki, 145 Games
Nowitzki played 21 seasons in the NBA, all of which came as a member of the Mavericks. He made 14 All-Star teams, won one MVP Award and was eventually named a member of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Across 145 career playoff games, he averaged 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 3-pointers. He was on the team that won the 2010-11 NBA Finals and he was named Finals MVP. During that playoff run, he averaged 27.7 points.
2. Jason Terry, 87 Games
Terry spent the first five seasons of his career with the Hawks before joining the Mavericks for the 2004-05 season. He would go on to play eight seasons with the Mavericks and establish himself as one of the best players to come off the bench in the league. He finished inside the top three for Sixth Man of the Year voting five times and won the award for the 2008-09 season. Terry was also a member of the Mavericks team that won the championship for the 2010-11 season. Over 87 career playoff games with the franchise, Terry averaged 16.9 points, 3.5 assists and 1.9 3-pointers.
3. Josh Howard, 62 Games
The Mavericks selected Howard with the 29th pick in the 2003 Draft. He made his lone career All-Star team as a member of the Mavericks during the 2006-07 season. The furthest that Howard advanced in the playoffs with the Mavericks was the 2005-06 NBA Finals, which the Mavericks lost to the Heat. Across 62 career playoff games with the franchise, Howard averaged 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals.
4. Erick Dampier, 57 Games
Dampier spent one season with the Pacers and seven seasons with the Warriors before joining the Mavericks. His best season with the Mavericks came in 2004-05 when he provided 9.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. While Dampier did not win a championship with the Mavericks, he was on the 2005-06 team that lost to the Heat in the NBA Finals. Over 57 career playoff games with the Mavericks, Dampier averaged 4.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.
5. Michael Finley, 56 Games
Finley was traded from the Suns to the Mavericks during the 1996-97 season. Beginning in 1997-98, he did not miss a game for four straight seasons. Not only that, but he also averaged at least 41 minutes in all four of those seasons. In two of those seasons, he was named an All-Star. The furthest that Finley advanced in the playoffs with the Mavericks was the Western Conference Finals during the 2002-03 season. Across 56 career playoff games with the franchise, Finley averaged 17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.9 three-pointers.
