The 1983-84 Dallas Mavericks marked a pivotal season for the franchise, as they made their first playoff appearance in team history. Under the guidance of head coach Dick Motta, the Mavericks finished the regular season with a 43-39 record, securing the fourth spot in the Midwest Division. Key contributors included Mark Aguirre, who averaged an impressive 29.5 points per game, and Rolando Blackman, a steady presence with 22.4 points per game.
In the playoffs, Dallas faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the first-round best-of-five series. The Mavericks emerged victorious in a tightly contested series, winning 3-2 and advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals. However, they met their match against the Los Angeles Lakers, losing the series 4-1. Despite the defeat, the season was considered a success, laying a foundation for future accomplishments and establishing the Mavericks as competitive contenders in the NBA landscape. This campaign was a significant step forward for the young franchise.
- Regular Season Record: 43-39
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-2, Western Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 1983-84 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Mark Aguirre | 79 | 29.5 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 27.3 | 10 | 22.0 | 7.6 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Rolando Blackman | 81 | 22.4 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 9.1 | 10 | 23.9 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Pat Cummings | 80 | 13.1 | 8.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 10 | 10.8 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Brad Davis | 81 | 11.1 | 2.3 | 6.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 18.4 | 10 | 8.1 | 1.9 | 5.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jay Vincent | 61 | 11.0 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 15.2 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Dale Ellis | 67 | 8.2 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 41.4 | 8 | 7.4 | 5.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 8.3 |
| Kurt Nimphius | 82 | 7.9 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 25.0 | 10 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Derek Harper | 82 | 5.7 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 11.5 | 10 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 37.5 |
| Bill Garnett | 80 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 8 | 4.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 100.0 |
| Jim Spanarkel | 7 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Elston Turner | 47 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 11.1 | 8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Roger Phegley | 10 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark West | 34 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks in the 1984 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the first round of the 1984 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks made their postseason debut and faced the Seattle SuperSonics. The series was a close contest, ultimately decided in five games, with the Mavericks emerging victorious 3-2. Mark Aguirre's standout performance, alongside solid contributions from Rolando Blackman, helped Dallas secure their first-ever playoff series win.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 88-86 | |
| Apr 19, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 95-92 | |
| Apr 21, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-94 | |
| Apr 24, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-96 | |
| Apr 26, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 105-104 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1984 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks made a significant stride by advancing to the second round for the first time in franchise history. Facing the Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavericks put up a commendable fight but ultimately fell to the more seasoned Lakers in a five-game series. This playoff run marked a pivotal moment for the young franchise, setting a foundation for future success in the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 134-91 | |
| May 01, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-101 | |
| May 04, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 125-115 | |
| May 06, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-115 | |
| May 08, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-99 |
Dallas Mavericks 1983-84 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1983-84 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 120-103 | |
| Oct 30, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 123-101 | |
| Nov 01, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 130-124 | |
| Nov 02, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-117 | |
| Nov 04, 1983 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-84 | |
| Nov 05, 1983 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-102 | |
| Nov 09, 1983 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-106 | |
| Nov 11, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | L 100-98 | |
| Nov 17, 1983 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 115-113 | |
| Nov 19, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 116-107 | |
| Nov 22, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 118-117 | |
| Nov 25, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 98-96 | |
| Nov 26, 1983 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-109 | |
| Nov 30, 1983 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 113-102 | |
| Dec 02, 1983 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 133-118 | |
| Dec 03, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-100 | |
| Dec 06, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 112-103 | |
| Dec 07, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 114-112 | |
| Dec 09, 1983 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 132-124 | |
| Dec 10, 1983 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 126-123 | |
| Dec 11, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 118-116 | |
| Dec 14, 1983 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 117-109 | |
| Dec 16, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 110-105 | |
| Dec 17, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-84 | |
| Dec 20, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 116-104 | |
| Dec 22, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 101-98 | |
| Dec 27, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 112-109 | |
| Dec 28, 1983 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 109-92 | |
| Dec 30, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 114-109 | |
| Jan 03, 1984 | @ Houston Rockets | W 119-117 | |
| Jan 04, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 105-102 | |
| Jan 06, 1984 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 123-106 | |
| Jan 07, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 141-117 | |
| Jan 10, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 112-102 | |
| Jan 11, 1984 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 117-102 | |
| Jan 13, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 113-110 | |
| Jan 15, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 126-107 | |
| Jan 17, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-114 | |
| Jan 18, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-107 | |
| Jan 20, 1984 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 120-113 | |
| Jan 21, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 118-111 | |
| Jan 24, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | W 123-115 | |
| Jan 25, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-110 | |
| Feb 01, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | L 105-98 | |
| Feb 02, 1984 | @ Houston Rockets | L 123-107 | |
| Feb 03, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 114-111 | |
| Feb 05, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-96 | |
| Feb 07, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-85 | |
| Feb 08, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 120-114 | |
| Feb 10, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 115-96 | |
| Feb 11, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 108-89 | |
| Feb 15, 1984 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 119-116 | |
| Feb 17, 1984 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 129-123 | |
| Feb 18, 1984 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 120-115 | |
| Feb 22, 1984 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 112-106 | |
| Feb 24, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 95-88 | |
| Feb 25, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | W 97-95 | |
| Feb 28, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 116-104 | |
| Feb 29, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-124 | |
| Mar 02, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 108-94 | |
| Mar 03, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 105-103 | |
| Mar 07, 1984 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 115-103 | |
| Mar 09, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-120 | |
| Mar 10, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-103 | |
| Mar 13, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 137-131 | |
| Mar 14, 1984 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 105-101 | |
| Mar 17, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | L 118-103 | |
| Mar 21, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 102-101 | |
| Mar 23, 1984 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 116-104 | |
| Mar 24, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 119-101 | |
| Mar 27, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | L 97-88 | |
| Mar 28, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-107 | |
| Mar 30, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-110 | |
| Apr 01, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | L 102-98 | |
| Apr 03, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 91-88 | |
| Apr 06, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 131-118 | |
| Apr 07, 1984 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 109-100 | |
| Apr 10, 1984 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 116-114 | |
| Apr 12, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 119-118 | |
| Apr 13, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-103 | |
| Apr 15, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 98-96 |