Mark Aguirre’s No. 24 Rises in Dallas: A Long-Awaited Reunion Between Player and City
DALLAS - For years, Mark Aguirre's name lingered in Dallas Mavericks history without full closure. He was the franchise’s first true star, a three-time All-Star who carried the team through its early years.
But after his departure in 1989, the relationship between Aguirre and the Mavericks remained complicated - a mix of appreciation, misunderstanding, and unfinished business. That changed in a powerful way when the Mavericks raised Aguirre’s No. 24 to the rafters at American Airlines Center, finally giving one of the franchise’s foundational players the recognition he long deserved.
The moment was more than just a jersey retirement - it was a reconciliation. A celebration of a career that began on the tough streets of Chicago’s West Side, where Aguirre and childhood friend Isiah Thomas learned to navigate life’s challenges through basketball. On this night, Thomas stood beside him, not just as a Hall of Famer, but as a brother in both the game and in life.
“To see him honored like this and to see the Mavericks organization and the city of Dallas embrace him like this, it really is a dream come true,” Thomas said. “It’s bigger than any basketball moment that he’s had on the floor. To see him in this arena, in this environment, be loved and cherished - especially coming from where we came from - it’s great to see.”
That shared upbringing shaped both of their careers. Long before they became the top two picks in the 1981 NBA Draft - Aguirre to Dallas at No.
1, Thomas to Detroit at No. 2 - survival was the priority. Thomas recalled those early days as a grind where the future was never guaranteed.
“You were hungry every day and you really were just surviving,” Thomas said. “You really couldn’t think about tomorrow or next week.
It was hour to hour, figuring out life and school. Basketball took the mental strain off your brain.”
That escape turned into stardom. Aguirre became the centerpiece of the Mavericks’ offense, a versatile scorer who could dominate from the post, knock down jumpers, and facilitate for teammates. He averaged at least 22.6 points per game in six full seasons with Dallas, and his offensive repertoire made him one of the most difficult covers in the league during the 1980s.
“He could score on the block, score from the outside, pass the basketball,” said longtime teammate Rolando Blackman. “He was an unstoppable force for us.”
Sam Perkins, another former teammate, echoed the sentiment, pointing to Aguirre’s unshakable confidence and ability to take over games.
“Mark was fearless,” Perkins said. “He knew where he could get his shots. The team supported him, and I believe coach [Dick] Motta respected him and challenged him.”
Yet for all his production, Aguirre’s time in Dallas ended with a trade to Detroit in 1989 - a move that brought tension and left a void in his relationship with the franchise. Despite winning two championships with the Pistons, the connection with Dallas remained unresolved.
That rift was felt by those who played alongside him.
“I think the first word I’d use is misunderstood,” said Derek Harper. “For whatever reason, Mark got a bad rap that wasn’t fair.
To label Mark a bad guy, I would respectfully disagree with that. Let bygones be bygones.”
That sentiment ultimately helped drive the Mavericks’ decision to retire his number. According to team CEO Rick Welts, Aguirre’s absence from the rafters had been a glaring omission.
“When you looked up in the rafters, there was one natural number missing,” Welts said. “We talked with everyone connected to the team and its history, and it was unanimous.
This was something that should have been done. It might be overdue, but it’s happening now.”
For Aguirre, the ceremony was deeply personal - not just a celebration of his career, but a moment of emotional closure. He spoke about how Dallas shaped him, how it helped him grow not just as a player, but as a man.
“To come to Dallas, to come with Don Carter, that was the beginning of making me who I am,” Aguirre said. “My mother made me take God with me when I came here. Dallas was perfect for me.”
And while the jersey rising to the rafters was the official recognition, the quiet affirmations from his former teammates over the years had already started the healing process.
“Rolando would always say it didn’t feel right without me up there,” Aguirre said. “Derek said the same thing. That made me feel better about everything.”
Now, with No. 24 hanging high above the court, the Mavericks have not only honored a franchise icon - they’ve reconnected with a key piece of their identity. For Mark Aguirre, the wait is over.
The legacy is secure. And the love is finally mutual.