Record 40–42 (.488) | Playoff finish {{{playoffs}}} | |
The 1999-2000 Dallas Mavericks season was the 20th season for the NBA team in Dallas, Texas. This season is especially notable as Mark Cuban purchased the team from H. Ross Perot, Jr. in January 2000. Under Cuban's leadership, the Mavs built a foundation for continued NBA success that eventually led to two Finals appearances (and one championship) in the next decade.
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The Mavs signed the flamboyant power forward Dennis Rodman in early 2000, after Cuban bought the team. Rodman's behavior issues led to a very short (12 game) tenure in Dallas before he was waived. Michael Finley averaged 22.6 points per game and was named NBA All-Star for the first time in his career, as he was selected to play in the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland. Second-year star Dirk Nowitzki showed some improvement averaging 17.5 points per game. The Mavericks posted a 9–1 record in April and finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record. However, they missed the playoffs for the tenth straight season.
Following the season, Cedric Ceballos was traded to the Detroit Pistons, Erick Strickland was traded to the New York Knicks, and Robert Pack was dealt to the Boston Celtics, who then sent him back to the Denver Nuggets.
Roster Notes
Standings
z= clinched division title y= clinched division title x= clinched playoff spot
Mark Cuban
On January 15, 2000, Mark Cuban purchased a majority stake in the NBA Dallas Mavericks basketball team for $285 million from H. Ross Perot, Jr..
Dennis Rodman
In the 1999–2000 NBA season, the then 38-year-old power forward was signed by the Dallas Mavericks, meaning that Rodman returned to the place where he grew up. For the Mavericks, he played 12 games, was ejected twice and alienated the franchise with his erratic behavior until he was waived again; Dallas guard Steve Nash commented that Rodman "never wanted to be [a Maverick]" and therefore was unmotivated.