The Mavericks’ next retired number ought to be a Dallas story first, and that’s why Luka Dončić doesn’t belong at the front of the line.
There’s been some national buzz about Luka as the next Mavs jersey to go into the rafters, but that idea feels more sentimental than sensible. Dončić was a brilliant player in Dallas, no question.
He piled up five straight All-NBA First Team selections with the Mavs and carried them to the 2024 NBA Finals, where they fell to Boston. But he’s with the Lakers now, he’s only 27, and the awkward part can’t be ignored: the same people who would have to make that call are the ones who traded him away on Feb.
1, 2025.
That deal, which brought Dallas just one first-round pick and also knocked Dončić out of eligibility for a $345 million supermax extension, changed the entire conversation. Maybe time smooths that over.
Maybe Luka comes back to Dallas someday. But right now, if you’re talking about the next name that belongs in the rafters, the answer starts with the championship core from 2011.
Dallas already has a short but meaningful list of retired numbers. Bill Russell’s No. 6 is up there because of the league-wide retirement, and Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 was honored after his tragic death.
The Mavs’ own retired numbers are Derek Harper’s No. 12, Brad Davis’ No.
15, Rolando Blackman’s No. 22, Mark Aguirre’s No. 24 and Dirk Nowitzki’s No.
If the next ceremony is going to honor a true Mavs icon, there are four obvious candidates, in numerical order.
Shawn Marion’s No. 0 should be in the discussion. He was a four-time All-Star, and he brought major two-way value to the 2011 title team. He never always got the shine, but he absolutely earned respect in Dallas.
Jason Kidd’s No. 2 is another no-brainer. He was a Hall of Fame point guard, a leader on the 2011 championship team and later the head coach of the Mavericks’ 2024 Finals team. That kind of footprint across eras matters.
Michael Finley wore No. 4 and was part of the franchise’s rise alongside Dirk. He was a two-time All-Star, a foundational piece of the turnaround and, for the last decade, a member of the front office.
Then there’s Jason Terry, No. 31. He was one of the great Sixth Men of the Year, one of the great 3-point shooters, and a key part of the 2011 championship run.
Those are the names that should be getting the real attention. They’ve already done the work, they’ve already helped deliver a title, and they’ve already earned a place in Dallas history.
Luka may eventually get there, too. But not before them.
In Other News...
Dirk Nowitzki Just Put Massive Expectations On Cooper Flagg
Dirk Nowitzki spent part of a recent appearance on the DLLS Mavs podcast talking about where he fits, or might fit, in the Mavericks new front-office setup, and he also turned his attention to the teams biggest new name. In a city that still measures every young star against the standard Nowitzki helped set, his take on rookie Cooper Flagg carries extra weight, especially with Dallas trying to build something fresh around its new core.
Nowitzki said Flagg has the kind of talent that could put him on an All-Star track, while also noting there are still areas of the game that need polish before the ceiling comes into full view. He also pointed to the way Flaggs style could mesh with Kyrie Irving, a reminder that Dallas is not just looking for promise, but for a player who can grow into the demands of a very specific roster. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Draft Pick Faces A Bigger Fit Problem Than Fans Realized
Morez Johnson Jr. arrived in Dallas as a draft pick with obvious appeal on the interior, but the fit questions were there from the start because the Mavericks know they cannot load up on non-shooters and expect the offense to hum. Johnsons perimeter game is the part that will likely determine how quickly he can carve out real minutes, and the early read is that his development will matter as much as his rim-running and physical tools.
The concern is only sharpened by the kind of lineup Dallas may want to build around him. Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively II are both below-average shooters, which means Johnsons long-range growth is not just a nice bonus but a necessary piece of the puzzle if the Mavericks want spacing that works. For now, the talent is easy to see, but the path to a regular role may depend on a shot that still has to catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Dusty May Just Showed Why Mavericks Still Need Kyrie Irving
Even with Kyrie Irving sidelined since the ACL injury he suffered in March 2025, the Mavericks keep finding reasons to view him as more than just an injured star. Head coach Dusty May has pointed to Irvings work ethic, leadership and preparation during recent workouts and pickup games, underscoring why Dallas still values his presence around a young group that includes Cooper Flagg and Morez Johnson Jr.
Irving is expected to miss the rest of the 2025-26 season as well, but his influence has not disappeared from the building. For a team trying to develop its next wave while staying competitive, the veteran guards experience remains a steadying force, and Dallas continues to treat that as something worth keeping in place. [Read more 🡒]