Ranking 15 worst Mavericks starters of the Dirk Nowitzki era

10. A.C. Green

Green is the NBA’s Iron Man. The 16-year NBA veteran missed just eight games in his career and played in 1,192 straight contests from November 1986 to his retirement in 2001.

He did not come to Dallas until 1996. He was part of the haul for Jason Kidd that included Michael Finley and Sam Cassell. Green was in his mid-30s and on the decline. He played a season and a half with the Mavericks before Dirk arrived in the 1998 draft. The 6’9 forward was 35 years old and in the final stage of his career by the time they shared the floor.

There were only 50 games in the lockout-shortened 1999 season. Green played in all of them, including making 35 starts, but averaged just 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game. Dallas won 19 games, and all they could muster for Green in a trade was a career role player and one second-round pick.

A.C. Green returned to the Lakers and helped them win a championship in 2000. He was again a starter but played fewer than 20 minutes per game in the postseason. Green won three championships and was an All-Star in 1990. He deserves plenty of praise, but his one season as a starter with Dirk Nowitzki was forgettable for both players.