The 1999–2000 Dallas Mavericks season was the 20th season for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association.
Season summary
Off-season This season is especially notable as Mark Cuban purchased the team from Ross Perot Jr. in January 2000; under Cuban's leadership, the Mavericks built a foundation for continued NBA success that eventually led to two NBA Finals appearances (and one championship) in the next decade. During the off-season, the team re-acquired former Mavericks center Sean Rooks from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Regular season The Mavericks continued to struggle with a 9–23 start to the regular season, as Gary Trent only played just eleven games due to hamstring and groin injuries, and Hot Rod Williams was out for the entire season due to a back injury. However, after the slow start, the team won 11 of their next 15 games, and held a 20–28 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the Mavericks signed former All-Star, and controversial power forward Dennis Rodman; however, Rodman's behavior issues led to a very short tenure in Dallas, as he was released to free agency in early March after twelve games. The Mavericks posted a six-game losing streak between February and March, but later on won nine of their final ten games of the season, finishing in fourth place in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record; however, the team missed the NBA playoffs for the tenth consecutive year.
Michael Finley averaged 22.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while second-year star Dirk Nowitzki showed improvement, averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and also leading the Mavericks with 116 three-point field goals, and Cedric Ceballos provided the team with 16.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. In addition, Erick Strickland contributed 12.8 points and 1.5 steals per game, while Robert Pack provided with 8.9 points and 5.8 assists per game, but only played just 29 games due to a sprained ankle, Steve Nash contributed 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game, but only played 56 games due to an ankle injury, Shawn Bradley averaged 8.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Hubert Davis contributed 7.4 points per game off the bench, while shooting .491 in three-point field-goal percentage.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at The Arena in Oakland in Oakland, California, Finley was selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance. Meanwhile, Nowitzki was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Sophomores team; Nowitzki scored 17 points despite the Sophomores losing to the Rookies team in overtime, 92–83. In addition, Nowitzki and Davis both participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout; it was the third time Davis participated in the competition. Finley also finished tied in 13th place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Nowitzki finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, behind Jalen Rose of the Indiana Pacers, and Ceballos finished tied in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
The Mavericks finished 23rd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 606,177 at the Reunion Arena during the regular season.
Aftermath Following the season, Ceballos was traded to the Detroit Pistons, while Strickland was traded to the New York Knicks on draft day, Rooks was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers, Pack and Williams were both dealt to the Boston Celtics in a four-team trade, who then sent Pack back to his former team, the Denver Nuggets, and released Williams to free agency as he retired.
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College236Wang ZhizhiCenter 240Gordan GiričekGuard
Roster
Roster notes Center Shawn Bradley holds both American and German citizenship. Power forward Dennis Rodman was waived on March 8, 2000. Forward/center Hot Rod Williams was on the injured reserve list due to a back strain, and missed the entire regular season.
Regular season
Standings
z= clinched division title y= clinched division title x= clinched playoff spot
Game log
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | November 2 | Golden State | | Cedric Ceballos (27) | Finley, Nowitzki (7) | Erick Strickland (5) | Reunion Arena12,848 | 1–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | November 4 | @ Seattle | | Cedric Ceballos (34) | Shawn Bradley (8) | Robert Pack (11) | KeyArena16,140 | 1–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | November 6 | @ Golden State | | Michael Finley (23) | Cedric Ceballos (13) | Robert Pack (8) | The Arena in Oakland12,708 | 2–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | November 7 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Michael Finley (29) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Steve Nash (7) | Staples Center18,068 | 2–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | November 9 | L.A. Lakers | | Finley, Strickland (19) | Rooks Ceballos (7) | Erick Strickland (4) | Reunion Arena17,349 | 2–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | November 11 | @ Miami | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | three players tied (5) | Miami Arena14,683 | 2–4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | November 13 | Orlando | | Michael Finley (28) | Cedric Ceballos (12) | Robert Pack (10) | Reunion Arena12,558 | 3–4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 16 | Houston | | Michael Finley (28) | Michael Finley (13) | Robert Pack (10) | Reunion Arena14,371 | 4–4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | November 17 | @ Charlotte | | Robert Pack (27) | Cedric Ceballos (14) | Robert Pack (14) | Charlotte Coliseum15,137 | 4–5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 10 | November 19 | Sacramento | | Michael Finley (24) | Michael Finley (12) | Michael Finley (8) | Reunion Arena15,507 | 4–6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 11 | November 20 | @ San Antonio | | Michael Finley (19) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Hubert Davis (7) | Alamodome16,596 | 4–7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 12 | November 23 | @ Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Michael Finley (8) | Finley, Davis (6) | Compaq Center15,088 | 4–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 13 | November 24 | @ Orlando | | Michael Finley (35) | Strickland, Nowitzki (9) | Erick Strickland (11) | Orlando Arena12,741 | 4–9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | November 27 | Chicago | | Michael Finley (24) | Cedric Ceballos (7) | Nash, Strickland (7) | Reunion Arena14,436 | 5–9 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | November 29 | @ New York | | Michael Finley (20) | Michael Finley (8) | Dirk Nowitzki (6) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 5–10 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 16 | November 30 | @ Cleveland | | Hubert Davis (27) | Michael Finley (12) | Michael Finley (11) | Gund Arena11,033 | 5–11
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | December 2 | @ Chicago | | Michael Finley (30) | Michael Finley (9) | Hubert Davis (6) | United Center22,109 | 6–11 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | December 4 | @ Minnesota | | Michael Finley (32) | Cedric Ceballos (12) | Michael Finley (5) | Target Center16,671 | 7–11 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 19 | December 5 | @ Milwaukee | | Michael Finley (29) | Dirk Nowitzki (10) | Dirk Nowitzki (6) | Bradley Center12,214 | 7–12 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | December 7 | Vancouver | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Cedric Ceballos (12) | Robert Pack (12) | Reunion Arena11,552 | 7–13 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 21 | December 8 | @ Utah | | Cedric Ceballos (19) | Michael Finley (10) | Michael Finley (8) | Delta Center18,090 | 7–14 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | December 11 | Phoenix | | Michael Finley (33) | Michael Finley (14) | Robert Pack (11) | Reunion Arena14,444 | 8–14 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 23 | December 14 | San Antonio | | Cedric Ceballos (27) | Cedric Ceballos (10) | Robert Pack (8) | Reunion Arena13,685 | 8–15 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | December 16 | New York | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Shawn Bradley (10) | Finley, Pack (7) | Reunion Arena13,796 | 8–16 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 | December 18 | Minnesota | | Michael Finley (26) | Finley, Bradley (10) | Michael Finley (7) | Reunion Arena13,702 | 8–17 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | December 20 | Miami | | Gary Trent (22) | Shawn Bradley (10) | Finley, Trent (4) | Reunion Arena14,049 | 8–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | December 23 | @ Phoenix | | Michael Finley (33) | Michael Finley (13) | Michael Finley (13) | America West Arena19,023 | 9–18 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 28 | December 26 | @ Sacramento | | Michael Finley (23) | Michael Finley (8) | Michael Finley (8) | ARCO Arena17,317 | 9–19 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 29 | December 27 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Dirk Nowitzki (30) | Gary Trent (13) | Michael Finley (8) | Staples Center18,997 | 9–20 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | December 30 | Toronto | | Dirk Nowitzki (32) | Michael Finley (7) | Damon Jones (9) | Reunion Arena16,490 | 9–21
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | January 4 | @ Denver | | Michael Finley (28) | Michael Finley (8) | Michael Finley (10) | Pepsi Center10,549 | 9–22 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 32 | January 6 | Utah | | Michael Finley (30) | Cedric Ceballos (14) | Michael Finley (8) | Reunion Arena12,218 | 9–23 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | January 8 | Atlanta | | Michael Finley (28) | Cedric Ceballos (14) | Michael Finley (9) | Reunion Arena12,814 | 10–23 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 34 | January 10 | @ Portland | | Dirk Nowitzki (19) | Cedric Ceballos (11) | Michael Finley (5) | Rose Garden Arena19,980 | 10–24 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 35 | January 11 | @ Golden State | | Michael Finley (21) | Cedric Ceballos (12) | Michael Finley (10) | The Arena in Oakland9,887 | 11–24 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | January 15 | Portland | | Michael Finley (32) | Cedric Ceballos (11) | Michael Finley (8) | Reunion Arena18,148 | 12–24 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 37 | January 17 | Houston | | Cedric Ceballos (39) | Cedric Ceballos (9) | Erick Strickland (7) | Reunion Arena15,080 | 12–25 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | January 19 | @ Washington | | Michael Finley (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Michael Finley (9) | MCI Center11,358 | 13–25 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 39 | January 22 | @ New Jersey | | Cedric Ceballos (36) | Shawn Bradley (11) | Michael Finley (9) | Continental Airlines Arena13,682 | 13–26 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 40 | January 23 | @ Detroit | | Cedric Ceballos (22) | Finley, Ceballos (10) | Finley, Strickland (6) | The Palace of Auburn Hills13,047 | 14–26 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | January 25 | Golden State | | Michael Finley (30) | Shawn Bradley (12) | Michael Finley (10) | Reunion Arena13,164 | 15–26 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 | January 27 | L.A. Clippers | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Shawn Bradley (10) | Michael Finley (10) | Reunion Arena11,927 | 16–26 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 43 | January 29 | Denver | | Cedric Ceballos (31) | Cedric Ceballos (10) | Erick Strickland (6) | Reunion Arena16,674 | 17–26
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 44 | February 1 | Philadelphia | | Cedric Ceballos (26) | Cedric Ceballos (12) | Steve Nash (8) | Reunion Arena13,506 | 17–27 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | February 3 | Charlotte | | Michael Finley (32) | Michael Finley (9) | Steve Nash (6) | Reunion Arena11,126 | 18–27 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 46 | February 5 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Erick Strickland (24) | Michael Finley (10) | Michael Finley (9) | Staples Center13,646 | 19–27 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 47 | February 6 | @ Vancouver | | Michael Finley (34) | Erick Strickland (9) | Steve Nash (7) | General Motors Place14,861 | 20–27 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 48 | February 9 | Seattle | | Finley, Ceballos (26) | Dennis Rodman (13) | Finley, Strickland (5) | Reunion Arena18,203 | 20–28 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |-style="background:#fcc;" | 49 | February 15 | Milwaukee | | Shawn Bradley (20) | Dennis Rodman (16) | Michael Finley (6) | Reunion Arena11,912 | 20–29 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 50 | February 17 | Detroit | | Dirk Nowitzki (22) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Erick Strickland (7) | Reunion Arena16,241 | 21–29 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 51