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Dallas Mavericks: Possible Numbers To Retire

By Cole Mentzel

Mar 22, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Mavericks currently have two numbers sitting in their rafters, the No. 22 of Rolando Blackman and the No. 15 of Brad Davis.

Before the 2013-14 season, Mark Cuban told the media that the No. 12 of Derek Harper was going to be retired, however, nothing ever happened and it was later announced that it would not be happening that year but would most likely happen in the future.

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Many insiders and fans have speculated on who could be next and rumors have ranged from Mark Aguirre, Michael Finley, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. Number retiring ceremonies are big events though and while these players deserve that honor, it’s obvious that all of them won’t make the cut.

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Steve Nash was a member of the Mavs from 1998-2004. He was a part of the “Big 3” including Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavs helped him rise in the NBA and ultimately made him into the superstar that he went on to be in Phoenix. Notice that last part.

Though he is a very deserving member, I don’t think the Mavs should retire his No. 13 due to the fact that he played more seasons in Phoenix and had his best years there, including two MVP seasons. He is more fit for the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor, which he will be inducted into on Oct. 30.

Jason Kidd played for the Mavs at the beginning of his career (1994-97) and the end (2007-12). He is known as one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game because of his passing and basic knowledge on the court. However, I don’t believe he has a spot in the Mavs rafters.

He did help the Mavs win a championship in 2011 but his best seasons came with the Nets and that’s where his No. 5 was retired. He will be remembered as a Mavs great but I don’t think his number will ever be retired in Dallas.

Michael Finley was an integral part of the early 2000s Mavs teams. His offense was vital as he scored close to 20 points per game in all of his seasons with the Mavs. His play in the late ’90s energized the team and he was a perfect fit for Dirk Nowitzki.

This will be a tough decision to make for the Mavs front office once the time comes. In my personal opinion, I would say he deserves to have his No. 4 retired but that could spark up the argument of including Steve Nash. The Mavs could quickly find themselves retiring too many numbers which is something they don’t want to happen. This one could go either way.

Mark Aguirre helped the Mavs jump start their franchise. He played in Dallas from 1981-89 and averaged at least 21.7 points per game in every season there except his rookie season. He was part of a run to the Western Conference Finals in 1987-88 when the Mavs fell to the Lakers in Game 7.

One of the things that made him so special in Dallas was his role in the core of Rolando Blackman, Derek Harper and Brad Davis. Two out of three of those players have numbers retired and the other will have one soon, so Aguirre deserves to have his up there. The one sign of his love for Dallas showed when his numbers took a significant hit the first year he left the Mavs.

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    • Aguirre had many spectacular moments in Dallas and gave fans something to root for in the early years of the franchise.

    Jason Terry played with the Mavs from 2004-12. Over the years, he transformed into one of the best sixth men in the NBA and truly became a part of Dallas. The fans loved him, the team loved him and the organization loved him. Terry was instrumental in the 2011 Playoffs and picked up the slack in Game 6 of the Finals to help the Mavs close out the series and win the championship.

    His heart and spirit truly impacted every game he played in and for that reason, his No. 31 should be retired in Dallas. Sure, he didn’t play there his entire career but he peaked in Dallas and truly embraced any role he was put into. It will be a while, but Terry should have a number hanging in the AAC someday.

    There’s also Dirk Nowitzki, who WILL have his No. 41 in the rafters eventually. The Mavs are fortunate to have so many players deserving of honors like number retiring ceremonies. For a franchise that is only 35 years old, they certainly have had some of the more dynamic players in the league.

    It’s unfortunate that all the players above won’t be included but front offices have to reserve spots for the absolute best. It’s been a while since the last time a number was raised to the ceiling in Dallas and everyone looks forward to the day when they get to see another one.

    Next: Mavericks Throwback: Jason Terry Comes Up Big Vs. Spurs

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