30 Greatest Dallas Mavericks in history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)

9. Roy Tarpley - 18.4

Roy Tarpley played 280 games for the Dallas Mavericks from 1986 until 1995, but his time in the NBA was cut short due to several suspensions due to substance abuse, but he was excellent when he was on the floor. His career in the NBA started off hot, as he was named to the All-Rookie First Team and then won the Sixth Man of the Year the following year.

Tarpley averaged 12.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field. He had outstanding hands on defense, and his size and length helped him be an elite rim protector and rebounder for his entire tenure in Dallas.

Offensively, Tarpley had underrated touch around the bucket and he also had a reliable mid-range jumper. His hustle on the offensive glass created second-chance opportunities for the Mavs often, and other teams struggled to limit him on the glass.

If Tarpley was able to stay on the floor, he could have become one of the greatest Mavs ever. His mid-range shooting was ahead of his time, his defense was great, and his ability to grab every rebound that came off the rim was awesome to see.

He played in several other pro leagues during his suspensions from the NBA, and he passed away at 50 years old in 2015.