1999–2000 Dallas Mavericks season

The 1999–2000 Dallas Mavericks season was the 20th season for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association.^[1] This season is especially notable as Mark Cuban purchased the team from Ross Perot Jr. in January 2000;^[2][3][4] under Cuban's leadership, the Mavericks built a foundation for continued NBA success that eventually led to two NBA Finals appearances (and one championship) in the next decade. During the off-season, the team re-acquired former Mavericks center Sean Rooks from the Los Angeles Lakers.^[5][6]

The Mavericks continued to struggle with a 9–23 start to the regular season, as Gary Trent only played just eleven games due to hamstring and groin injuries,^[7][8] and Hot Rod Williams was out for the entire season due to a back injury.^[9] However, after the slow start, the team won 11 of their next 15 games, and held a 20–28 record at the All-Star break.^[10] At mid-season, the Mavericks signed former All-Star, and controversial power forward Dennis Rodman;^[11][12][13] however, Rodman's behavior issues led to a very short tenure in Dallas, as he was released to free agency in early March after twelve games.^[14][15][16] The Mavericks posted a six-game losing streak between February and March, but later on won nine of their final ten games of the season, finishing in fourth place in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record; however, the team missed the NBA playoffs for the tenth consecutive year.^[17]

Michael Finley averaged 22.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while second-year star Dirk Nowitzki showed improvement, averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and also leading the Mavericks with 116 three-point field goals, and Cedric Ceballos provided the team with 16.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. In addition, Erick Strickland contributed 12.8 points and 1.5 steals per game, while Robert Pack provided with 8.9 points and 5.8 assists per game, but only played just 29 games due to a sprained ankle,^[18][19] Steve Nash contributed 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game, but only played 56 games due to an ankle injury,^[20][21] Shawn Bradley averaged 8.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Hubert Davis contributed 7.4 points per game off the bench, while shooting .491 in three-point field-goal percentage.^[22]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at The Arena in Oakland in Oakland, California, Finley was selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance.^[23][24][25] Meanwhile, Nowitzki was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Sophomores team;^[26][27] Nowitzki scored 17 points despite the Sophomores losing to the Rookies team in overtime, 92–83.^[27] In addition, Nowitzki and Davis both participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout; it was the third time Davis participated in the competition.^[26][28] Finley also finished tied in 13th place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[29] while Nowitzki finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, behind Jalen Rose of the Indiana Pacers,^[30][29] and Ceballos finished tied in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.^[29]

The Mavericks finished 23rd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 606,177 at the Reunion Arena during the regular season.^[22][31] Following the season, Ceballos was traded to the Detroit Pistons,^[32][33][34] while Strickland was traded to the New York Knicks,^[35][36][37] Rooks was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers,^[35][38] Pack and Williams were both dealt to the Boston Celtics in a four-team trade,^[39][40] who then sent Pack back to his former team, the Denver Nuggets,^[41][42][43] and released Williams to free agency as he retired.