Dallas Mavericks GOAT Rankings

The debate rages on.

Many consider either LeBron James or Michael Jordan the greatest player in NBA history—the GOAT, as the title is widely abbreviated in sports circles. Some want to put Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the conversation, while others seem determined to include Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

None of these answers are inherently correct or incorrect. Realizing that is vital.

We’re not going to fall into the trap made by other GOAT rankings and insist our order is the only acceptable one, since everyone values different legacy components uniquely. That’s what makes this conversation so difficult in and of itself: How much are you swayed by championships, longevity, era translations and every other possible piece of the argument?

Our rankings here are intended to tell you who produced the most on both ends of the floor relative to his peers. The longer the high-level production was sustained, the better. But team-based results like deep playoff runs and championships don’t have any bearing in this particular article, which focuses entirely on the Dallas Mavericks franchise.

Sections

  • Methodology
  • Flaws
  • GOAT Progression
  • Per-Season GOAT Standings
  • Top-Ranked Seasons
  • Top Rookie Seasons

Methodology

Our rankings are centered around the accumulation of GOAT points, which are calculated using the following steps:

  1. Isolate all TPA scores earned during any given season from 1951-52 through 2017-18, combining both regular-season and postseason numbers.
  2. Calculate the average and standard deviation of the data for the relevant season.
  3. Convert TPA scores to Z-Scores (standard deviations above or below the average). The Z-Scores then function as GOAT points.
  4. Sum GOAT points from all seasons to find career scores, though only players with at least 1.0 GOAT points will be depicted pictorially.

Flaws

This is by no means a perfect examination of basketball history, so treat it as a baseline if you desire.

Notable Flaw No. 1: TPA isn’t a Perfect Stat

Since TPA is derived from box plus/minus, we’re looking only at box-score stats and failing to give players proper credit for solid defensive switching, beneficial picks at the top of the key and so much more. Scores before 1973-74 are estimated through a correlation with win shares, which allows for some variance as well. A few players (see: Westbrook, Russell) even see their scores boosted by extreme interaction effects between assist percentage and usage rate, as BPM was never intended to handle such high numbers.

Notable Flaw No. 2: No Anecdotes

Memorable shots don’t matter here. Nor do performances that came in crunch-time scenarios. The stories told by these players can’t necessarily be quantified, even though they largely color our perception of these contributors.

Not a Flaw: Higher Scores for Modern Players

Because the league has more players these days (deeper rosters and more franchises), the standard deviation naturally shrinks. That makes it easier for modern standouts to earn higher Z-Scores, and thus higher numbers of GOAT points during a single go-round. This isn’t a flaw, so much as a purposeful part of the design.

Deviating from the pack in a positive fashion is harder in the modern Association, as back-end players who sit on the pine for large portions of contests have improved drastically. The supply/demand curve is the only justification necessary; the NBA has a finite number of roster spots and far more qualified players looking to earn them, which forces the level of those end-of-bench contributors to undergo an upward progression.

The league as a whole improves every year.

The GOAT Progression

  • Season Positives: Jim Spanarkel (0.717)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Jim Spanarkel
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Jim Spanarkel (0.47), Jay Vincent (0.139), Mark Aguirre (0.012)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Jay Vincent, Mark Aguirre
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Mark Aguirre (0.927), Bill Garnett (0.581), Kurt Nimphius (0.336), Jay Vincent (0.329), Brad Davis (0.18)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Bill Garnett, Kurt Nimphius
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Mark Aguirre (1.958), Rolando Blackman (1.167), Kurt Nimphius (0.876), Bill Garnett (0.263), Jim Spanarkel (0.007)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Rolando Blackman
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Jay Vincent

  • Season Positives: Derek Harper (0.935), Mark Aguirre (0.878), Sam Perkins (0.343), Kurt Nimphius (0.334), Rolando Blackman (0.313), Brad Davis (0.129)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Sam Perkins, Derek Harper
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Derek Harper (1.328), Sam Perkins (0.775), Mark Aguirre (0.737), Rolando Blackman (0.147)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Derek Harper (1.91), James Donaldson (1.43), Mark Aguirre (1.354), Sam Perkins (1.119), Rolando Blackman (0.286), Detlef Schrempf (0.076)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: James Donaldson
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Mark Aguirre (1.379), Derek Harper (1.343), Roy Tarpley (0.537), James Donaldson (0.415), Sam Perkins (0.195), Rolando Blackman (0.023)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Roy Tarpley
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Derek Harper (1.272), Sam Perkins (0.261), Roy Tarpley (0.071)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Derek Harper (2.058), Sam Perkins (1.224), Rolando Blackman (0.215), Roy Tarpley (0.112)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Derek Harper (1.304), Rodney McCraw (0.694), Roy Tarpley (0.049)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Rodney McCray
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Derek Harper (0.248), Fat Lever (0.159)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: None
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Fat Lever
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Fat Lever (0.125), Popeye Jones (0.079)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Fat Lever
    • Entered the Top 20: Popeye Jones
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Rolando Blackman
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Jason Kidd (0.883), Lorenzo Williams (0.691), Jim Jackson (0.134), George McCloud (0.056)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Jason Kidd, Lorenzo Williams
    • Entered the Top 20: Jason Kidd, Lorenzo Williams, George McCloud
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: James Donaldson, Roy Tarpley
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Popeye Jones

  • Season Positives: Jason Kidd (1.594), George McCloud (0.651)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: George McCloud
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Fat Lever
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: None
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Michael Finley (1.628)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Michael Finley
    • Entered the Top 20: Michael Finley
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Lorenzo Williams
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Michael Finley (1.66), Shawn Bradley (1.405), Erick Strickland (0.224), Gary Trent (0.188)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Shawn Bradley
    • Entered the Top 20: Shawn Bradley, Gary Trent
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Rodney McCray
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Michael Finley (1.602), Dirk Nowitzki (0.996), Erick Strickland (0.762), Shawn Bradley (0.637)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Dirk Nowitzki
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Gary Trent

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (2.927), Michael Finley (1.536), Steve Nash (1.012), Shawn Bradley (0.491), Howard Eisley (0.123), Greg Buckner (0.109)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Dirk Nowitzki
    • Entered the Top 20: Howard Eisley, Greg Buckner
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: George McCloud
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (2.778), Steve Nash (1.322), Adrian Griffin (0.661), Michael Finley (0.545), Eduardo Najera (0.285), Greg Buckner (0.251), Shawn Bradley (0.196)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Steve Nash
    • Entered the Top 20: Steve Nash, Adrian Griffin, Eduardo Najera
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Jim Spanarkel
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Howard Eisley, Rolando Blackman, Roy Tarpley

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (3.213), Steve Nash (1.685), Shawn Bradley (1.356), Raef LaFrentz (0.783), Michael Finley (0.76), Eduardo Najera (0.529), Adrian Griffin (0.205), Walt Williams (0.084), Evan Eschmeyer (0.014)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Adrian Griffin
    • Entered the Top 20: Raef LaFrentz
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Bill Garnett
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Howard Eisley

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (2.129), Michael Finley (1.323), Antoine Walker (0.993), Antawn Jamison (0.726), Steve Nash (0.525), Marquis Daniels (0.368), Josh Howard (0.343), Shawn Bradley (0.316)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Antoine Walker
    • Entered the Top 20: Antoine Walker, Antawn Jamison, Marquis Daniels
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Adrian Griffin
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Greg Buckner, Fat Lever, James Donaldson

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (3.504), Jason Terry (1.402), Josh Howard (1.228), Michael Finley (0.457), Devin Harris (0.263), Erick Dampier (0.238), Marquis Daniels (0.235)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Josh Howard, Jason Terry
    • Entered the Top 20: Josh Howard, Jason Terry
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Kurt Nimphius, Antoine Walker
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Lorenzo Williams, Marquis Daniels

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (3.152), Jason Terry (1.439), DeSagana Diop (0.902), Josh Howard (0.77), Adrian Griffin (0.515), Marquis Daniels (0.39), Erick Dampier (0.29), Devin Harris (0.114)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Marquis Daniels, DeSagana Diop
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Eduardo Najera, Rodney McCray

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (3.704), Jason Terry (2.111), Josh Howard (1.334), Devin Harris (0.758), Erick Dampier (0.734), DeSagana Diop (0.679), Jerry Stackhouse (0.01)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Erick Dampier, Devin Harris
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Antawn Jamison, George McCloud

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (2.62), Jason Terry (1.277), Erick Dampier (1.123), Josh Howard (0.383)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Jason Kidd (2.512), Jason Terry (1.167), Erick Dampier (0.995), Dirk Nowitzki (0.677)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Erick Dampier
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Steve Nash
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Jason Kidd (2.545), Dirk Nowitzki (1.614), Jason Terry (0.397), Shawn Marion (0.223), Rodrigue Beaubois (0.164), Erick Dampier (0.161)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (2.063), Jason Kidd (1.78), Tyson Chandler (0.969), Shawn Marion (0.519), Jason Terry (0.314), Brian Cardinal (0.301)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Tyson Chandler
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Raef LaFrentz

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (0.941), Jason Kidd (0.864), Shawn Marion (0.517), Brandan Wright (0.502), Jason Terry (0.436), Rodrigue Beaubois (0.357), Vince Carter (0.208), Delonte West (0.078)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Shawn Marion
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Jim Spanarkel

  • Season Positives: Vince Carter (0.722), Shawn Marion (0.669), Dirk Nowitzki (0.336), Brandan Wright (0.218), O.J. Mayo (0.138), Elton Brand (0.072), Darren Collison (0.056)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Vince Carter
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Bill Garnett

  • Season Positives: Dirk Nowitzki (0.997), Brandan Wright (0.458), Jose Calderon (0.369), Shawn Marion (0.305), Vince Carter (0.272), Samuel Dalembert (0.111), Jae Crowder (0.086), DeJuan Blair (0.083)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Brandan Wright
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Tyson Chandler

  • Season Positives: Tyson Chandler (2.029), Chandler Parsons (1.144), Al-Farouq Aminu (0.675), Devin Harris (0.371), Dirk Nowitzki (0.316), Bernard James (0.028)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Tyson Chandler, Chandler Parsons
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Antoine Walker, Marquis Daniels

  • Season Positives: Chandler Parsons (0.631), Zaza Pachulia (0.513), Dirk Nowitzki (0.383), Wesley Matthews (0.228), Salah Mejri (0.058), Devin Harris (0.048)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Seth Curry (0.481), Dwight Powell (0.334), Wesley Matthews (0.028)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Dwight Powell (0.947), Salah Mejri (0.465), Dirk Nowitzki (0.144), Nerlens Noel (0.082), Maxi Kleber (0.033), J.J. Barea (0.016)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Dwight Powell
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Brandan Wright

Per-Season GOAT Standings

Perhaps you wish to take longevity out of the equation.

In that case, allow us to reveal the top 30 per-season scores, found simply by dividing total GOAT points by the number of NBA seasons recorded. Do note that injury-shortened campaigns (for example, Michael Jordan’s 1985-86 efforts, in which he played only 18 games while not sidelined with a broken foot) still count the same as full go-rounds. This methodology can also benefit players still in their primes, as they haven’t yet posted twilight seasons that drag down their averages.

Top-Ranked Seasons

Top Rookie Seasons