# 1981–82 Dallas Mavericks season

The 1981–82 Dallas Mavericks season was the second season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Rookie Jay Vincent led the team in scoring with 21.4 points per game and earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors. The Mavericks improved to 28–54, getting out of the Midwest Division cellar as they finished above the Utah Jazz.

## Draft picks

The 1981 NBA draft brought three players who would become vital parts of the team. The Mavs selected 6'6" forward Mark Aguirre with the first pick, 6'6" guard Rolando Blackman 9th, and 6'7" forward Jay Vincent 24th. By the end of his seven-year Mavs career, Aguirre would average 24.6 points per game. Blackman contributed 19.2 points over his 11-year career in Dallas.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Aguirre | SF | United States | DePaul |
| 1 | 9 | Rolando Blackman | SG | United States | Kansas State |
| 2 | 24 | Jay Vincent | SF | United States | Michigan State |
| 2 | 43 | Elston Turner | SG/SF | United States | Mississippi |
| 3 | 47 | Art Housey | | United States | Kansas |
| 4 | 70 | Eddie Moss | | United States | Syracuse |
| 5 | 93 | Pete Budko | | United States | North Carolina |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-San Antonio Spurs | 48 | 34 | .585 | – | 29–12 | 19–22 | 20–10 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2.0 | 29–12 | 17–24 | 19–11 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2.0 | 25–16 | 21–20 | 17–13 |
| Kansas City Kings | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18.0 | 23–18 | 7–34 | 11–19 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 20.0 | 16–25 | 12–29 | 11–19 |
| Utah Jazz | 25 | 57 | .305 | 23.0 | 18–23 | 7–34 | 9–21 |

### Record vs. opponents

1981-82 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1981–82 game log Total: 28–54 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) :
October: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
November: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
November 8 9:00 p.m. CST
@Los Angeles
L 111–121
Aguirre (23)
LaGarde (11)
Davis (7)
The Forum 9,870
1–5
13
November 24 7:35 p.m. CST
Los Angeles
L 110–125
Vincent (20)
Vincent (13)
Davis (9)
Reunion Arena 14,266
1–12
14
November 25 8:35 p.m. CST
@ Denver
L 133–139
Aguirre (31)
LaGarde (8)
Davis (15)
McNichols Sports Arena 8,533
1–13 :
December: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 5 7:35 p.m. CST
Denver
W 109–105
Aguirre (26)
Turner (8)
Davis (13)
Reunion Arena 7,620
3–15
24
December 16 6:30 p.m. CST
@ Boston
L 92–109
Vincent (27)
LaGarde (9)
Davis, Lloyd, Spanarkel, Turner (4)
Boston Garden 15,320
5–19
28
December 26 7:35 p.m. CST
Denver
L 117–124
Vincent (33)
Cooper, Nimphius, Vincent (8)
Bristow, Davis (7)
Reunion Arena 9,580
6–22 :
January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
36
January 15 8:35 p.m. CST
@ Denver
L 113–128
Vincent (22)
Bristow, Cooper (8)
Bristow (7)
McNichols Sports Arena 7,990
9–27 :
February: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
57
March 2 7:35 p.m. CST
Boston
L 97–101
Vincent (31)
Bristow, Cooper (8)
Bristow (12)
Reunion Arena 17,134
19–38
64
March 14 9:00 p.m. CST
@ Los Angeles
L 116–138
Blackman (25)
Vincent (7)
Davis (6)
The Forum 13,000
22–42
66
March 19 7:35 p.m. CST
Los Angeles
L 106–112
Vincent (22)
Vincent (13)
Cooper (5)
Reunion Arena 17,134
22–44
68
March 23 9:30 p.m. CST
@ Los Angeles
W 118–116
Aguirre (23)
Vincent (10)
Spanarkel (7)
The Forum 13,516
23–45
73
March 31 7:35 p.m. CST
Denver
L 119–120
Vincent (31)
Cooper (10)
Bristow (14)
Reunion Arena 7,322
24–49 :
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
82
April 17 8:35 p.m. CST
@ Denver
L 124–130
Vincent (26)
Aguirre, Vincent (9)
Bristow (10)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,009
28–54 :
1981–82 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Brad Davis | PG | 82 | 82 | 2,614 | 226 | 509 | 73 | 6 | 993 | 31.9 | 2.8 | 6.2 | .9 | .1 | 12.1 |
| Allan Bristow | SF | 82 | 54 | 2,035 | 339 | 448 | 65 | 6 | 573 | 24.8 | 4.1 | 5.5 | .8 | .1 | 7.0 |
| Rolando Blackman | SG | 82 | 16 | 1,979 | 254 | 105 | 46 | 30 | 1,091 | 24.1 | 3.1 | 1.3 | .6 | .4 | 13.3 |
| Jim Spanarkel | SG | 82 | 1 | 1,755 | 210 | 206 | 86 | 9 | 827 | 21.4 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .1 | 10.1 |
| Jay Vincent | PF | 81 | 62 | 2,626 | 565 | 176 | 89 | 22 | 1,732 | 32.4 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 1.1 | .3 | 21.4 |
| Elston Turner | SF | 80 | 62 | 1,996 | 301 | 189 | 75 | 2 | 661 | 25.0 | 3.8 | 2.4 | .9 | .0 | 8.3 |
| Wayne Cooper | C | 76 | 38 | 1,818 | 550 | 115 | 37 | 106 | 682 | 23.9 | 7.2 | 1.5 | .5 | 1.4 | 9.0 |
| Scott Lloyd | PF | 74 | 17 | 1,047 | 163 | 67 | 15 | 7 | 287 | 14.1 | 2.2 | .9 | .2 | .1 | 3.9 |
| Kurt Nimphius | C | 63 | 27 | 1,085 | 295 | 61 | 17 | 82 | 337 | 17.2 | 4.7 | 1.0 | .3 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
| Mark Aguirre | SF | 51 | 20 | 1,468 | 249 | 164 | 37 | 22 | 955 | 28.8 | 4.9 | 3.2 | .7 | .4 | 18.7 |
| Tom LaGarde | C | 47 | 28 | 909 | 210 | 49 | 17 | 17 | 312 | 19.3 | 4.5 | 1.0 | .4 | .4 | 6.6 |
| Clarence Kea | PF | 35 | 0 | 248 | 61 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 81 | 7.1 | 1.7 | .4 | .1 | .1 | 2.3 |
| Oliver Mack | SG | 13 | 3 | 150 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 44 | 11.5 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .4 | .1 | 3.4 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

* Jay Vincent, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team