The Dallas Mavericks have been one of the most pre-eminent franchises in the NBA. Located in one of the biggest markets, the aspirations for the Dallas Mavericks to win a championship come and go every year. With all that being said, the Mavericks have won only one championship in franchise history, and it is widely regarded as one of the greatest championship runs. Let’s take a deep dive into it and try to relive it.
Dallas Mavericks Championship Year
The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA championship in 2011. Heading into the 2010-11 season, all eyes were focused on the defending champions Los Angeles Lakers and the newly minted big 3 in South Beach, the Miami Heat. It almost felt inevitable that we were going to get the long-awaited LeBron vs. Kobe matchup.
The regular season went in a breeze and the Mavericks finished 3rd in the Western Conference, with a 57-25 record. It was definitely impressive, but no one was expecting them to make any real noise in the playoffs, especially after their multiple disappointing runs in the previous seasons. Everyone was expecting a quick second-round exit at the hands of the defending champions and Mavs fans would be left to wonder where it all went wrong. However, the Mavs had other ideas.
In the first round, they faced the sixth seed, the Portland Trail Blazers. Definitely a tough matchup, but almost everyone expected the Mavs to win the series. And the Mavs did the same, defeating the Blazers in six games. Next up, they faced the defending champions, the mighty Los Angeles Lakers, and to the surprise of everyone, the Mavs swept the Lakers, a shocking result considering the might and aura of the Lakers and more importantly, the power of Kobe Bryant.
This propelled the Dallas Mavericks to their first conference finals appearance since 2006 and this time they would be facing the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder with the core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. This was where Mavs superstar Dirk Nowitzki shined. He had a 50-point game in a crucial game 4 and the Mavs ended up taking the series in 5 games to lead them to their first Finals appearance since 2006. Fate would have it that they would meet the same opponent as they did then, the Miami Heat.
How did Dallas beat Miami in 2011?
While this wasn't the Finals matchup that NBA fans were salivating and hoping for, it was a matchup worth watching as many were hoping this was finally the time that LeBron James broke through and won his first championship. And in Game 1, the Heat looked like they were dead set on making that a reality as they breezed through and took it in a commanding fashion.
It was in Game 2, however, that the tide changed. In a game where the Heat were up 12 in the fourth quarter, they saw their lead dwindle in a shocking collapse and Dirk Nowitzki’s left-handed layup at the end of the game won the game for the Mavericks.
After that, with home-court advantage, the Mavs calmly won three of the next four games and came back to Miami with the series being 3-2 in favor of the Mavs. With the whole world expecting the series to reach an epic game 7, the Mavs once again shocked the world by winning game 6 and clinching the championship. After years of pain and agony for the Mavs, it was their moment in the sun as they lifted that glorious trophy high into the sky.
FAQs
A. The Dallas Mavericks won the championship in 2011.
A. The Mavericks have only one championship in their franchise history.
A. The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA finals.
A. Yes, Dirk Nowitzki is a league MVP winning it in 2007.
A. Dirk Nowitzki was named Finals MVP in 2011.
