Rick Carlisle coached the Mavericks in 1,033 games from 2009-2021, bringing them their first championship in 2011.
The Mavericks have had a number of great coaches hold down the sidelines throughout their 45-year history in the Association. We’ve compiled a list of Dallas’ Top 5 bench bosses in terms of games coached, so let’s take a further look at their tenures.
Rick Carlisle, 1,033 games (2009-2021)
In 13 seasons with Dallas from 2009 to 2021, Carlisle put together a 555-478 record during the regular season, holding the top spot as the winningest coach in franchise history. His teams made the postseason nine times throughout his tenure there, including winning the first and only NBA championship for Dallas in 2011 over the Miami Heat. Carlisle won 50 games on four occasions, with his best finish coming during their banner-raising campaign at 57-25.
Dick Motta, 738 games (1980-87; 1994-96)
Motta spent nine of his 25 years as coach of the Mavericks, compiling a 329-409 record between two separate stints in Dallas. He became the team’s first coach in their inaugural 1980-81 season. In his first stop in Texas from 1980 to 1987, Motta’s teams improved on their win totals in every campaign except one (44 wins in ‘85 and ‘86), going from 15 wins in year one to 55 in year seven. He led the franchise to four straight postseason berths from 1984 to 1987. His final two seasons with the organization came in 1995 and 1996, with the Mavs winning 36 and 26 contests, respectively, and failing to make the playoffs.
Don Nelson – 590 games (1997-2005)
The legendary Don Nelson is next up on the list. At the league’s 75th anniversary celebration in Cleveland in 2022, he was recognized as one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history, owning a career record of 1,335-1,063 in his 31 seasons as a coach. In eight seasons with Dallas, Nelson collected a 339-251 record between 1997 and 2005, winning at least 52 games and making the playoffs in four consecutive campaigns from 2000 to 2004. ‘Nellie’ was elected to the Hall of Fame as a coach in 2012.
Jason Kidd – 328 games (2022-25)
Kidd enjoyed a 19-year Hall of Fame career as a player from 1994 to 2013. His first coaching gig came the year after his retirement, landing the coaching title for the Brooklyn Nets in 2013-14 before spending the next four campaigns as Milwaukee’s bench boss. ‘J-Kidd’ earned his first coaching championship as an assistant with the Lakers before being hired by the Mavericks in 2021, where he’s been the coach for the last four seasons. During that time, Kidd has amassed a 179-149 record, winning at least 50 games twice while making the playoffs in each of those years, including a trip to the Finals against Boston in 2024.
Avery Johnson – 264 games (2005-08)
Before stepping into a coaching role, Johnson played 16 seasons while suiting up for the Spurs, Warriors, Supersonics, Nuggets, Mavericks and Rockets. Immediately after retiring as a player in 2004, ‘A.J.’ spent one season as an assistant under Nelson in Dallas in 2004-05, only to take over as coach for the final 18 regular-season contests. From there, Johnson would lead the Mavs to a combined 194-70 record from 2004-2008, winning 51-plus games in each full season. He was named Coach of the Year in 2006 after posting a 60-22 record, then helped the Mavs reach the Finals after winning the Western Conference.
Richie Adubato – 264 games (1989-93)
Richie Adubato accumulated a 94-170 record over the course of three-plus seasons from 1989 to 1993. His best campaign with Dallas came in 1989-90 when he was hired as coach after 11 games into the season. The Mavericks finished 42-29 and made their lone postseason appearance under Adubato.
