Countdown: Inside the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks “71” Loss Season

The countdown continues, 71 days until the Mavericks open the season in Phoenix on Oct. 28

Oh you wanted to tank? Yeah, about that…

“Well I never drank the Kool-Aid and I’m glad Cuban didn’t either”

As the DeAndre news broke and became official, the tanking evangelists came out of the shadows to boldly proclaim their opinion on how the Mavericks should tank this upcoming season. It was like Philadelphia opened up the cage of their fan base and we watched the tanking believers “go unto all nations, baptizing them (Mavericks fans)” in their tanking ways. Well I never drank the Kool-Aid and I’m glad Cuban didn’t either.

So on the subject of losing, let’s look at the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks team that lost a franchise record 71 games.

TEAM SUMMARY: Coming off a 22 win season, head coach Richie Adubato headed into the 92-93 season with Derek Harper as the catalyst for the team. Most of us fans now think of Derek Harper as our local game announcer, but to MFFL’s, he is one of the best players to ever don the Mavericks jersey.

Feb 22, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks former guard Rolando Blackman is recognized during the first half of the game between the Mavericks and the Charlotte Hornets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Speaking of franchise greats, the Mavericks had just traded Rolando Blackman to the Knicks prior to the season for a first round draft pick. The team eventually took the “great” Loran Meyer who we actually traded the very next year (with Jason Kidd) to the Suns for Sam Cassell, A.C. Green, and fan favorite, Michael Finley.

During the 92-93 season the Mavs went on 15 and 19 game losing streaks. People actually wanted to watch Dirk and company go through that this year? One of the only positives to come from that year was probably the classic green, blue, and white jerseys that we might actually see return this year as alternates.

Another random note was the player salaries at that time period. Derek Harper was our best player and leading scorer while making a grand annual salary of 2 million dollars. Can we take Harper right now for 2 million?

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NOTABLE PLAYERS: Harper finished the year averaging 18.2 PPG. Who were the next leading scorers? You guessed it, Jim Jackson and Sean Rooks. To be sort of fair, Jackson was the second leading scorer, but just played 28 games that year.

Some NBA nerds will know of the name Fat Lever. Lever previously had a decent career that included a couple of all-star games but due to injury, had to sit out the entire 92-93 season.

Some other notable players that was on the team was ESPN NBA analyst, Tim Legler. Legler was some sort of journey man as the Mavericks signed him to a couple of 10-day contracts that led to a contract for the rest of the season.

The big man presence on the team was Terry Davis, the father of current NBA forward Ed Davis. He had his best averages that year as he averaged 12.7 PPG and 9.3 RPG.

If you can write anything else significant about anyone else on that roster then you deserve your own statue outside of AAC.

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RESULT: Now is the part the avid tankers boldly proclaim in their gospel message; the high draft pick. The following year the Mavericks landed the 4th overall pick and selected Kentucky forward Jamal Mashburn. Mashburn came in to Dallas to average 19.2 PPG that first year and we ONLY lost 69 games. The Mavericks never had a season over .500 while Mashburn was on the team.

Coincidently, a man by the name of Shawn Bradley went 2nd overall in the same draft, a giant who would wear a Mavericks jersey a few years later.

I am so glad we (hopefully) are not going through that misery this year. Although not a fun year to read (or write) about in the franchise’s history, it’s another example how losing at this level doesn’t guarantee you anything.

71 losses suck, but 71 more days until the start of this Mavericks season could be worse.

*All stats from Basketball-reference.com

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