# 1995–96 Dallas Mavericks season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Mavericks' 16th season in the National Basketball Association. The Mavericks had the twelfth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected Cherokee Parks out of Duke University. The team got off to a fast start winning their first four games. However, after a 5–1 start to the season, they struggled losing 21 of their next 24 games, as Jamal Mashburn went down with a knee injury after playing just 18 games, averaging 23.4 points per game. Mashburn, second-year star Jason Kidd and Jim Jackson all had trouble getting along as teammates, as Mashburn and Jackson both feuded with each other, and Jackson and Kidd both feuded with each other; there were rumors that R&B singer Toni Braxton was involved in Kidd and Jackson's feud.
The team's troubles continued as sixth man Roy Tarpley was banned from the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug policy. After holding a 16–30 record at the All-Star break, the Mavericks suffered an 11-game losing streak in March, and finished fifth in the Midwest Division with a 26–56 record.
Kidd averaged 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game, as he was selected to play in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game in San Antonio, Texas, which was his first ever All-Star appearance. In addition, Jackson averaged 19.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while George McCloud showed improvement, stepping up in Mashburn's absence, averaging 18.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, while finishing second in the league with 257 three-point field goals, and also finishing in second place in Most Improved Player voting. Popeye Jones provided the team with 11.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, while off the bench, second-year guard Tony Dumas contributed 11.6 points per game, Lucious Harris contributed 7.9 points per game, and starting center Lorenzo Williams averaged 8.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
In May, Ross Perot, Jr. purchased the team from founder Don Carter. Following the season, Jones was traded to the Toronto Raptors, while Harris signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers, Williams signed with the Washington Bullets, Parks was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Scott Brooks signed with the New York Knicks, Terry Davis was released to free agency, and Dick Motta was fired as head coach.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 12 | Cherokee Parks | C/PF | United States | Duke |
| 1 | 24 | Loren Meyer | C/PF | United States | Iowa State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-San Antonio Spurs | 59 | 23 | .720 | – | 33–8 | 26–15 | 19–5 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 55 | 27 | .671 | 4 | 34–7 | 21–20 | 14–10 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 11 | 27–14 | 21–20 | 15–9 |
| Denver Nuggets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 24 | 24–17 | 11–30 | 13–11 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 26 | 56 | .317 | 33 | 17–24 | 9–32 | 10–14 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 26 | 56 | .317 | 33 | 16–25 | 10–31 | 10–14 |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 15 | 67 | .183 | 44 | 10–31 | 5–36 | 3–21 |
Western Conferencevte :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c-Seattle SuperSonics * | 64 | 18 | .780 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs * | 59 | 23 | .720 | 5 | 82 |
| 3 | x-Utah Jazz | 55 | 27 | .671 | 9 | 82 |
| 4 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 11 | 82 |
| 5 | x-Houston Rockets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 16 | 82 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 20 | 82 |
| 7 | x-Phoenix Suns | 41 | 41 | .500 | 23 | 82 |
| 8 | x-Sacramento Kings | 39 | 43 | .476 | 25 | 82 |
| 9 | Golden State Warriors | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28 | 82 |
| 10 | Denver Nuggets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 29 | 82 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Clippers | 29 | 53 | .354 | 35 | 82 |
| 12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 26 | 56 | .317 | 38 | 82 |
| 13 | Dallas Mavericks | 26 | 56 | .317 | 38 | 82 |
| 14 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 15 | 67 | .183 | 49 | 82 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 0–4 | – | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Charlotte | 1–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| New Jersey | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| New York | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Orlando | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Philadelphia | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | – | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | – | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Vancouver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

### Game log

1995–96 game log Total: 26–56 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) :
November: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
December: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
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 :
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
1995–96 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Jim Jackson | SG | 82 | 82 | 2,820 | 410 | 235 | 47 | 22 | 1,604 | 34.4 | 5.0 | 2.9 | .6 | .3 | 19.6 |
| Jason Kidd | PG | 81 | 81 | 3,034 | 553 | 783 | 175 | 26 | 1,348 | 37.5 | 6.8 | 9.7 | 2.2 | .3 | 16.6 |
| George McCloud | SF | 79 | 63 | 2,846 | 379 | 212 | 113 | 38 | 1,497 | 36.0 | 4.8 | 2.7 | 1.4 | .5 | 18.9 |
| Loren Meyer | C | 72 | 21 | 1,266 | 319 | 57 | 20 | 32 | 363 | 17.6 | 4.4 | .8 | .3 | .4 | 5.0 |
| Scott Brooks | PG | 69 | 0 | 716 | 41 | 100 | 42 | 3 | 352 | 10.4 | .6 | 1.4 | .6 | .0 | 5.1 |
| Popeye Jones | PF | 68 | 68 | 2,322 | 737 | 132 | 54 | 27 | 770 | 34.1 | 10.8 | 1.9 | .8 | .4 | 11.3 |
| Tony Dumas | SG | 67 | 12 | 1,284 | 115 | 99 | 42 | 13 | 776 | 19.2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | .6 | .2 | 11.6 |
| Lorenzo Williams | C | 65 | 61 | 1,806 | 521 | 85 | 48 | 122 | 198 | 27.8 | 8.0 | 1.3 | .7 | 1.9 | 3.0 |
| Cherokee Parks | C | 64 | 3 | 869 | 216 | 29 | 25 | 32 | 250 | 13.6 | 3.4 | .5 | .4 | .5 | 3.9 |
| Lucious Harris | SG | 61 | 1 | 1,016 | 122 | 79 | 35 | 3 | 481 | 16.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | .6 | .0 | 7.9 |
| David Wood$^†$ | PF | 37 | 0 | 642 | 133 | 27 | 16 | 9 | 182 | 17.4 | 3.6 | .7 | .4 | .2 | 4.9 |
| Terry Davis | PF | 28 | 0 | 501 | 117 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 137 | 17.9 | 4.2 | .8 | .4 | .1 | 4.9 |
| Jamal Mashburn | SF | 18 | 18 | 669 | 97 | 50 | 14 | 3 | 422 | 37.2 | 5.4 | 2.8 | .8 | .2 | 23.4 |
| Donald Hodge$^†$ | C | 13 | 0 | 113 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 8.7 | 1.7 | .3 | .1 | .6 | 1.4 |
| Reggie Slater$^†$ | PF | 3 | 0 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 8.7 | 1.7 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 3.7 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Mavericks only.

## Awards and records

* Jason Kidd, NBA All-Star Game