Hoops Habit
Fansided

Dallas Mavericks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Mavericks

By Phil Watson

Apr 21, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the arena before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the arena before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
16 of 26
Next
DALLAS, TX – CIRCA 1990: Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets battles for a rebound with Sam Perkins #41 of the Dallas Mavericks during an NBA basketball game circa 1990 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. Olajuwon played for the Rockets from 1984-2002. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – CIRCA 1990: Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets battles for a rebound with Sam Perkins #41 of the Dallas Mavericks during an NBA basketball game circa 1990 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. Olajuwon played for the Rockets from 1984-2002. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

79. <strong>How acquired: </strong>4th overall pick from North Carolina, 1984 NBA Draft.. PF-SF. 1984-90. Sam Perkins. 11. player

Sam Perkins was a two-time All-American at North Carolina, averaging 17.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as a senior after heling the Tar Heels to a national championship as a sophomore.

More than that, he was the prospect who brought the term “wingspan” into vogue. At 6-foot-9, but with a 7-foot-6 spread from fingertip to fingertip with his arms extended, Perkins presented challenges to opponents on both ends of the court.

DAL_11_PERKINS
DAL_11_PERKINS /

The

Dallas Mavericks

selected Perkins with the fourth overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft and their emergence as a playoff team coincided with the arrival of the versatile frontcourt player.

Perkins was a first team All-Rookie pick in 1984-85 and played all three frontcourt positions during his time with the Mavericks.

In August 1990, Perkins signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent.

In six seasons in Dallas, Perkins averaged 14.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 33.2 minutes per game, shooting .477/.260/.814.

Perkins helped the Lakers to the 1991 NBA Finals. He was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in February 1993, where he also played in the Finals, and in January 1999 he signed with the Indiana Pacers as a free agent.

A third unsuccessful NBA Finals trip followed in 2000 and Perkins opted to retire after he was waived by the Pacers in September 2001.

Perkins is 22nd in NBA history with 1,286 games.

Next: Late 1st-Rounder Rose, Fell Quickly

Home/Dallas Mavericks