Arena Reunion Arena Playoff finish Did not qualify | Record 11–71 (.134) | |
Head coach Richie Adubato
Gar Heard Place Division: 6th (Midwest)
Conference: 13th (Western) Television Home Sports Entertainment, KTVT | ||
The 1992–93 NBA season was the Mavericks' thirteenth season in the National Basketball Association. The dismantling of the 1980s Mavericks continued as Fat Lever missed the entire season with a knee injury. In addition, top draft pick Jim Jackson's rookie year was abbreviated due to a lengthy contract dispute where he held out for most of the season. This would all spell the recipe for disaster as the Mavericks flirted all season with the worst record in NBA history as they stood 4–57 through 61 games, including a 19-game losing streak. Head coach Richie Adubato was fired after a 2–27 start, and was replaced with Gar Heard.
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However, Jackson finally signed with the Mavericks in early March, and played in the final 28 games of the season averaging 16.3 points per game. Although, he was not selected to an All-Rookie Team at season's end. In the final 21 games, Jackson helped the team to seven wins, including two straight to close out the year, but the Mavericks still finished with a franchise worst 11–71 (.134) record. The Mavericks were led by Derek Harper, who finished first on the team in scoring averaging 18.2 points per game.
The 1992–93 Mavericks also had by far the worst average point differential in the history of the NBA at -15.2 points per game – over three points worse than the 1972–73 76ers who won only nine games, and over five points worse than the 2015–16 76ers who won ten. For this reason, NBA historian Kyle Wright declared in 2007 that the 1992–93 Mavericks must rank as, at least relative to their opponents, the worst team in the history of the NBA. Following the season, Heard was fired as coach, and Mike Iuzzolino signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic, but was later on released.
For the season, the Mavericks sported blue road uniforms which lasted until 2001.