The 1998–99 Dallas Mavericks season was the 19th season for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association. Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.
Season summary
Off-season The Mavericks received the sixth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and selected power forward Robert Traylor from the University of Michigan; however, the team soon traded Traylor to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for their top draft pick, rookie power forward and German basketball star Dirk Nowitzki on draft day. During the off-season, the team acquired Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns also on draft day, signed free agents Gary Trent, and Hot Rod Williams.
Regular season Despite the addition of Trent, Nowitzki and Nash, the Mavericks continued to struggle losing eight of their first nine games of the regular season, which included a seven-game losing streak in February. After 13 games, Cedric Ceballos suffered a wrist injury and was out for the remainder of the season, while Khalid Reeves was released to free agency, and later on signed with the Detroit Pistons. The Mavericks finished in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a 19–31 record, missing the NBA playoffs for the ninth consecutive year.
Michael Finley averaged 20.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while Trent averaged 16.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and Ceballos provided the team with 12.5 points per game. In addition, Hubert Davis contributed 9.1 points per game and led the Mavericks with 65 three-point field goals, while Shawn Bradley averaged 8.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, Robert Pack averaged 8.9 points and 3.2 assists per game in only just 25 games due to injury, Nowitzki provided with 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and Nash contributed 7.9 points and 5.5 assists per game. Meanwhile, Erick Strickland contributed 7.5 points per game, Samaki Walker averaged 5.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, and A.C. Green provided with 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Trent also finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting.
The Mavericks finished 24th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 362,837 at the Reunion Arena during the regular season.
Aftermath Following the season, Green was traded back to his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, while Walker signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs, and second-year center Chris Anstey was traded to the Chicago Bulls.
Offseason
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 6 Robert Traylor PF/C Michigan 2 30 Ansu Sesay SF Mississippi 2 35 Bruno Šundov C 2 53 Greg Buckner SG Clemson
Robert Traylor was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Pat Garrity and Dirk Nowitzki.
Roster
Roster notes Center Shawn Bradley holds both American and German citizenship. Rookie small forward Ansu Sesay was on the injured reserve list due to a broken right foot, missed the entire regular season, and never played for the Mavericks.
Regular season
Season standings
z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot
Game log
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | February 5 | @ Seattle | | Cedric Ceballos (16) | A.C. Green (11) | Nash, Finley (5) | KeyArena17,072 | 0–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | February 7 | @ Golden State | | Cedric Ceballos (26) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Steve Nash (12) | The Arena in Oakland12,039 | 1–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | February 9 | Utah | | Cedric Ceballos (19) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Steve Nash (4) | Reunion Arena17,070 | 1–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | February 11 | Houston | | Robert Pack (31) | Shawn Bradley (8) | Michael Finley (4) | Reunion Arena18,121 | 1–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | February 12 | @ Denver | | Michael Finley (28) | A.C. Green (8) | Steve Nash (9) | McNichols Sports Arena10,012 | 1–4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | February 14 | @ Vancouver | | Steve Nash (18) | Shawn Bradley (10) | Steve Nash (9) | General Motors Place16,059 | 1–5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 7 | February 15 | @ Portland | | Michael Finley (21) | Samaki Walker (6) | Steve Nash (4) | Rose Garden18,231 | 1–6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 8 | February 17 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Gary Trent (15) | Cedric Ceballos (8) | Robert Pack (7) | Great Western Forum13,492 | 1–7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | February 19 | @ Golden State | | Michael Finley (19) | Shawn Bradley (11) | Finley, Nash (4) | The Arena in Oakland11,432 | 1–8 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | February 20 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Michael Finley (31) | Cedric Ceballos (11) | Steve Nash (6) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena10,946 | 2–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 11 | February 22 | @ Phoenix | | Cedric Ceballos (21) | Shawn Bradley (7) | Robert Pack (5) | America West Arena18,596 | 2–9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | February 23 | Atlanta | | Michael Finley (22) | Gary Trent (10) | Robert Pack (8) | Reunion Arena13,387 | 3–9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | February 25 | Denver | | Finley, Ceballos (20) | Cedric Ceballos (13) | Steve Nash (5) | Reunion Arena13,203 | 4–9 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 14 | February 26 | @ Utah | | Robert Pack (18) | Samaki Walker (8) | Michael Finley (3) | Delta Center19,911 | 4–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 15 | February 27 | Sacramento | | Gary Trent (29) | Gary Trent (16) | Robert Pack (6) | Reunion Arena15,009 | 5–10
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | March 2 | L.A. Clippers | | Michael Finley (20) | A.C. Green (12) | Michael Finley (9) | Reunion Arena13,492 | 6–10 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 17 | March 4 | San Antonio | | Gary Trent (14) | Dirk Nowitzki (6) | Michael Finley (6) | Reunion Arena14,719 | 6–11 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 18 | March 5 | @ Utah | | Michael Finley (29) | Finley, Trent (8) | Gary Trent (5) | Delta Center19,539 | 6–12 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 19 | March 7 | @ Sacramento | | Trent, Finley (18) | Gary Trent (14) | Steve Nash (7) | ARCO Arena14,715 | 6–13 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | March 9 | Phoenix | | Michael Finley (22) | Shawn Bradley (14) | Michael Finley (12) | Reunion Arena12,714 | 6–14 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 21 | March 11 | Orlando | | Gary Trent (21) | A.C. Green (11) | Steve Nash (11) | Reunion Arena14,553 | 7–14 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | March 13 | Vancouver | | Michael Finley (21) | Shawn Bradley (10) | Steve Nash (10) | Reunion Arena14,184 | 8–14 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 23 | March 15 | Portland | | Michael Finley (21) | A.C. Green (8) | Michael Finley (6) | Reunion Arena14,046 | 8–15 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | March 17 | @ New Jersey | | Finley, Trent (21) | Gary Trent (16) | Finley, Nash (4) | Continental Airlines Arena14,976 | 8–16 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 | March 19 | @ Detroit | | Michael Finley (18) | Finley, Strickland (6) | Michael Finley (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills18,152 | 8–17 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 26 | March 20 | Sacramento | | Nash, Finley, Trent (22) | Gary Trent (11) | Michael Finley (9) | Reunion Arena16,161 | 9–17 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 27 | March 22 | L.A. Lakers | | Michael Finley (23) | A.C. Green (10) | Michael Finley (8) | Reunion Arena18,121 | 9–18 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 28 | March 24 | Houston | | Shawn Bradley (20) | Shawn Bradley (13) | Michael Finley (8) | Reunion Arena15,111 | 9–19 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 29 | March 26 | Denver | | Michael Finley (27) | Shawn Bradley (8) | Erick Strickland (4) | Reunion Arena13,096 | 10–19 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | March 27 | @ San Antonio | | Michael Finley (17) | Shawn Bradley (12) | Steve Nash (5) | Alamodome25,921 | 10–20 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | March 29 | Seattle | | Gary Trent (20) | Samaki Walker (13) | Erick Strickland (7) | Reunion Arena13,311 | 10–21 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 32 | March 30 | @ Minnesota | | Gary Trent (16) | Gary Trent (11) | Steve Nash (10) | Target Center15,609 | 10–22
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | April 1 | L.A. Clippers | | Michael Finley (22) | Shawn Bradley (13) | Steve Nash (9) | Reunion Arena13,336 | 11–22 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 34 | April 5 | @ Minnesota | | Gary Trent (26) | Gary Trent (8) | Steve Nash (7) | Target Center14,107 | 11–23 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 35 | April 7 | @ Miami | | Gary Trent (27) | Gary Trent (13) | Steve Nash (5) | Miami Arena15,200 | 11–24 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 36 | April 10 | Golden State | | Gary Trent (33) | Shawn Bradley (13) | Michael Finley (6) | Reunion Arena14,218 | 11–25 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | April 13 | San Antonio | | Michael Finley (25) | Shawn Bradley (12) | Steve Nash (12) | Reunion Arena13,142 | 12–25 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | April 15 | Minnesota | | Michael Finley (34) | Gary Trent (7) | Steve Nash (6) | Reunion Arena13,034 | 13–25 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 39 | April 16 | @ Phoenix | | Dirk Nowitzki (29) | Dirk Nowitzki (8) | Robert Pack (7) | America West Arena18,623 | 13–26 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 40 | April 17 | Portland | | Finley, Trent (24) | Gary Trent (10) | Michael Finley (5) | Reunion Arena13,358 | 13–27 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | April 20 | Phoenix | | Michael Finley (36) | Finley, Bradley (10) | Finley, Davis, Nowitzki (4) | Reunion Arena18,121 | 14–27 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 | April 21 | @ Houston | | Michael Finley (27) | Trent, Bradley (10) | Michael Finley (11) | Compaq Center16,285 | 15–27 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 43 | April 22 | @ San Antonio | | Michael Finley (20) | Chris Anstey (10) | Davis, Finley, Trent, Strickland (2) | Alamodome18,720 | 15–28 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 44 | April 24 | @ Sacramento | | Gary Trent (32) | Gary Trent (14) | Michael Finley (8) | ARCO Arena17,317 | 15–29 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | April 26 | Chicago | | Michael Finley (28) | Shawn Bradley (17) | Davis, Trent (5) | Reunion Arena13,011 | 16–29 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 46 | April 27 | Vancouver | | Gary Trent (20) | Shawn Bradley (12) | Finley, Trent (5) | Reunion Arena12,650 | 17–29 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 47 | April 29 | @ Houston | | Finley, Nowitzki (22) | Shawn Bradley (11) | Hubert Davis (6) | Compaq Center16,285 | 18–29
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 48 | May 1 | Golden State | | Michael Finley (31) | Shawn Bradley (15) | Davis, Strickland (6) | Reunion Arena15,669 | 19–29 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 49 | May 3 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Michael Finley (24) | Chris Anstey (7) | Erick Strickland (6) | Great Western Forum17,505 | 19–30 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 50 | May 4 | @ Seattle | | Michael Finley (34) | Shawn Bradley (15) | Michael Finley (6) | KeyArena17,072 | 19–31
Player statistics
Ragular season PlayerSF50 50 2,051 263 218 66 15 1,009 41.0 5.3 4.4 1.3 .3 20.2PF50 35 924 228 25 28 8 246 18.5 4.6 .5 .6 .2 4.9SG50 21 1,378 86 89 21 3 457 27.6 1.7 1.8 .4 .1 9.1C 49 33 1,294 392 40 35 159 420 26.4 8.0 .8 .7 3.2 8.6PF 47 24 958 162 47 29 27 385 20.4 3.4 1.0 .6 .6 8.2PF 45 23 1,362 351 77 29 23 719 30.3 7.8 1.7 .6 .5 16.0C 41 4 470 97 27 18 13 134 11.5 2.4 .7 .4 .3 3.3PG 40 40 1,269 114 219 37 2 315 31.7 2.9 5.5 .9 .1 7.9PF 39 2 568 143 6 9 16 229 14.6 3.7 .2 .2 .4 5.9SG 33 2 567 83 64 40 2 249 17.2 2.5 1.9 1.2 .1 7.5C 25 11 403 83 15 13 18 29 16.1 3.3 .6 .5 .7 1.2PG 25 0 468 36 81 20 1 222 18.7 1.4 3.2 .8 .0 8.9SF 13 5 352 85 12 7 5 163 27.1 6.5 .9 .5 .4 12.5C 3 0 11 0 1 0 0 4 3.7 .0 .3 .0 .0 1.3
See also 1998-99 NBA season
References