Mavericks: Former coach Del Harris earns Lifetime Achievement Award

Dallas Mavericks: Former coach Del Harris takes home Lifetime Achievement Award

The Dallas Mavericks were hungry to get back in the playoffs in 2001. Fans had not seen the postseason since 1990, and the Mavs had not made it out of the first round since 1988. Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley gave the Mavericks a big three. They added veteran coach Del Harris as an assistant, and he was a key piece in the team’s run.

Harris was on the staff for six years. The Mavs made it to the playoffs in every season including winning the Western Conference in his final year. Harris stayed on staff after Dallas went from Don Nelson to Avery Johnson as head coach.

Del had plenty of coaching experience before joining the Mavericks. He started in Houston as an assistant in 1975. He became head coach by 1980 and won the Western Conference in 1981. Harris also had head coaching stints with the Bucks and Lakers including patrolling the sidelines during Kobe Bryant’s rookie season in Los Angeles. Harris’ final year on the bench was 2010 with the New Jersey Nets.

Former Dallas Mavericks coach Del Harris wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Harris was named the 2020 recipient of the Chuck Daily Lifetime Achievement Award. Fans can read the story from Mavs.com here. Current Mavericks head coach and President of the Coaches Association Rick Carlisle helped present Harris the honors virtually on Oct. 2.

Harris is well-deserving. He coached in the NBA for nearly five decades and his teams always seemed to win. Harris finished with a .549 winning percentage over his 1,013 games as an NBA head coach. That does not count his fantastic work as an assistant including with the Dallas Mavericks. Hopefully, coach Harris is enjoying his retirement and his latest honor.

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