10 Most heartbreaking moments in Dallas Mavericks history

4. Losing the 2024 NBA Finals to the Celtics

The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2024 NBA Playoffs as underdogs to even make the NBA Finals. But, that didn't stop the Mavs from proving the doubters wrong.

Without having home-court advantage as a fifth seed, the Mavs reached the NBA Finals by defeating the Clippers, Thunder, and Timberwolves. Luka Doncic and the Mavs' run to the Finals caught a lot of people by surprise.

Unfortunately for the Mavs, they met the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics. The Finals had bad blood to be settled for Kyrie Irving who was a former Celtic, and Kristaps Porzingis who was a former Maverick.

Prior to the Finals starting, Derrick Jones Jr. made a bold statement and said "I don't think that anybody can beat us in a seven-game series." Jones Jr. and everyone around him were confident, but it didn't end up working out in Dallas' favor.

The Mavs would end up losing the Finals to the Celtics in five games. Irving was heckled and booed by Celtic fans the entire series. Both Irving and Doncic would underperform in the Finals too.

The Mavericks got big underperforming play from Tim Hardaway Jr. in the four losses of the series, and he was traded later that summer.

Most would say that the Mavs just met the better team which was the Celtics. But, losing a Finals in any fashion will be a heartbreaking moment.

This was Doncic's first taste of the NBA Finals, and he'll come back stronger than ever.