Dallas Mavericks: Top 5 greatest one-season wonders in team history

4. Antoine Walker — 2003–2004 season

After spending seven seasons with the Boston Celtics, Antoine Walker was dealt to the Mavericks in a five-player trade. The move was questioned as Walker just came off of back-to-back All-Star seasons. He had emerged as a durable forward who could average 20 points on a season-by-season basis.

Walker started in all 82 games in his lone season in Dallas and averaged 14.0 points per game, a new career-low at the time. After spending much of his time in Boston as one of the main focal points of the offense alongside Paul Pierce, he took a step back in his Mavericks stint. He averaged 13.8 field goal attempts per game — a figure lower than his 19.9 mark in the prior season with Boston.

The three-time All-Star orchestrated several showcase performances, such as his 27-point game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Walker had his way throughout the game with a good mix of low-post scoring and spot-up perimeter makes. Steve Nash often found him rolling inside for transition scores as well. He also added 10 rebounds and seven assists in the Mavericks’ 17-point statement win.

Dallas went on to log their fourth straight 50-win season, but the Sacramento Kings ended their hopes at a deep playoff run as they eliminated them in the first round. Walker struggled with 9.8 points per game on 36.1 percent shooting in the series.

The Mavericks had seen enough as they traded Walker to the Atlanta Hawks in the offseason in a deal that brought Jason Terry to Dallas.