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

27. Sam Perkins - 16.0

The Dallas Mavericks drafted 6-foot-9 forward Sam Perkins with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, and the best years of his career were from his time with Dallas. Before getting drafted, Perkins won the NCAA National Championship while at North Carolina. Perkins played for the Mavs from 1984 until 1990, and he was a solidified starter for nearly his entire tenure with the Mavs.

In six years for Dallas, Perkins averaged 14.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. Perkins was ahead of his time with his versatility and shooting, as not many frontcourt players were as skilled as they are today.

While in Dallas, Perkins played with some Mavericks legends such as Derek Harper, Rolando Blackman, and Mark Aguirre, and these teams made some noise in the Western Conference. The Mavs made the playoffs in five of the six seasons he played there.

During his time with Dallas, Perkins will always be remembered for his leadership and ability to do it all. Perkins could knock down mid-range jumpers, and score around the basket, and his hustle was infectious.

Many Mavs fans don't know that there was another savvy power forward who wore No. 41 other than Dirk Nowitzki (only during Perkins' rookie year), and Perkins was a phenomenal talent. His time in Dallas ended when they traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1990.