11 Dallas Mavericks that never played a single minute

4. Kiki Vandeweghe

Vanderweghe was the Dallas Mavericks first draft pick in franchise history. They selected the 6’8 forward out of UCLA with the 11th overall pick, but he refused to play for the expansion franchise. It took six months, but the Mavs finally found a trade in December of 1980 that sent him to the Denver Nuggets. The two first-round picks they received in the deal turned into Ronaldo Blackman and Sam Vincent.

Vandeweghe was booed whenever he came to Dallas, but that did little to stop him. The 6’8 forward was one of the best scorers in the 1980s. He made two All-Star appearances and played 13 years in the league, but he never suited up for the Mavericks.

After retiring he joined the Mavericks as director of player personnel and assistant coach in 1999 where he helped Dirk Nowitzki blossom. He spent two years in Dallas before becoming the Nuggets' general manager in 2001 with zero front-office experience.

Kiki Vandeweghe was GM for the Nuggets and Nets before joining the league office from 2013 to 2021. He has transitioned into an advisory role to commissioner Adam Silver over the last two years.

Vandeweghe was the first Mavericks’ draft pick, despite never playing for the team. He went on to have a lengthy career in the NBA, but MFFLs never forgot his refusal to join the team.