10 Greatest NBA Finals performers in Dallas Mavericks history

9. J.J. Barea

If only J.J. Barea had a more consistent run in the 2011 Finals, he would place higher on this list. But the Dallas Mavericks are surely thankful they had someone like the Puerto Rican point guard, who stepped up big time when he was inserted into the lineup midway into the round.

Down 2-1 against the Miami Heat, Dallas needed a change of pace, and Barea was exactly what the doctor ordered for the team. While he didn't have an outstanding performance in its Game 4 victory, he did the most damage against Miami in the fifth and sixth meetings.

In Game 5, he matched LeBron James' scoring output with 17. He followed that up with a 15-point production in the title-clinching bout, establishing his place in the franchise's lore. Heat legend Dwyane Wade even credited Barea for his role in the Mavs' lone championship, admitting that his team had no answer for the retired ball handler.

Despite standing at less than six feet, he showed no fear of going up against the bigger opponents.

What's impressive about Barea's career is that he started as a relative unknown, going undrafted in 2006. He eventually developed into a fan favorite and one of the Mavs' cult heroes.