# 2003–04 Dallas Mavericks season

The 2003–04 NBA season was the Mavericks' 24th season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Mavericks acquired Antawn Jamison from the Golden State Warriors, and All-Star forward Antoine Walker from the Boston Celtics. Although the team struggled with chemistry with a 15–12 start, the Mavericks went on a nine-game winning streak in January, and won eight of their final ten games. They finished third in the Midwest Division with a 52–30 record. Dirk Nowitzki was the only member of the team to be selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. With the trio of Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash along with NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamison, the Mavericks continued their reputation as the best offensive team in the NBA. Notable were two rookies, Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels, who made an immediate impact, and were both selected to the All-Rookie Second Team.
However, the Mavericks were eliminated quickly four games to one in the playoffs, losing in the first round to their archrivals the Sacramento Kings. Following the season, Nash signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, Walker was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and later returned to the Boston Celtics in midseason, and Jamison was dealt to the Washington Wizards.
The Mavericks sported gray alternate road uniforms for the season which only lasted one game.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 29 | Josh Howard | SF | United States | Wake Forest |
| 2 | 57 | Xue Yuyang | | People's Republic of China | |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Center Shawn Bradley also holds American citizenship, but he played for the German national team and was born in Germany.
* Shooting guard Tariq Abdul-Wahad missed the entire season due to tendinitis in his left knee.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | – | 31–10 | 27–14 | 14–10 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1 | 33–8 | 24–17 | 15–9 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 6 | 36–5 | 16–25 | 14–10 |
| x-Memphis Grizzlies | 50 | 32 | .610 | 8 | 31–10 | 19–22 | 12–12 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 | 27–14 | 18–23 | 8–16 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 11–13 |
| Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 16 | 28–13 | 14–27 | 10–14 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
| 2 | y-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 2 |
| 3 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1 |
| 4 | x-Sacramento Kings | 55 | 27 | .671 | 3 |
| 5 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 6 |
| 6 | x-Memphis Grizzlies | 50 | 32 | .610 | 8 |
| 7 | x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 8 | x-Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 |
| 9 | Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 16 |
| 10 | Portland Trail Blazers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 17 |
| 11 | Seattle SuperSonics | 37 | 45 | .451 | 21 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 21 |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | 29 | 53 | .354 | 29 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Clippers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 30 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

2003-04 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 1–3 | – | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Memphis | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | – | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| New Jersey | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | – | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | – | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| New York | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | – | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Philadelphia | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Playoffs

2004 playoff game log :
First round: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18
@ Sacramento
L 105–116
Dirk Nowitzki (32)
Dirk Nowitzki (13)
Steve Nash (8)
ARCO Arena 17,317
0–1
2
April 20
@ Sacramento
L 79–83
Dirk Nowitzki (28)
Marquis Daniels (11)
Steve Nash (9)
ARCO Arena 17,317
0–2
3
April 24
Sacramento
W 104–79
Marquis Daniels (22)
Josh Howard (14)
Steve Nash (5)
American Airlines Center 20,580
1–2
4
April 26
Sacramento
L 92–94
Dirk Nowitzki (21)
Dirk Nowitzki (14)
Steve Nash (9)
American Airlines Center 20,677
1–3
5
April 29
@ Sacramento
L 118–119
Dirk Nowitzki (31)
Dirk Nowitzki (14)
Steve Nash (14)
ARCO Arena 17,317
1–4 :
2004 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Antoine Walker | PF | 82 | 82 | 2,840 | 684 | 369 | 65 | 65 | 1,151 | 34.6 | 8.3 | 4.5 | .8 | .8 | 14.0 |
| Antawn Jamison | SF | 82 | 2 | 2,376 | 520 | 70 | 83 | 30 | 1,212 | 29.0 | 6.3 | .9 | 1.0 | .4 | 14.8 |
| Steve Nash | PG | 78 | 78 | 2,612 | 232 | 687 | 67 | 8 | 1,128 | 33.5 | 3.0 | 8.8 | .9 | .1 | 14.5 |
| Dirk Nowitzki | C | 77 | 77 | 2,915 | 670 | 207 | 92 | 104 | 1,680 | 37.9 | 8.7 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 21.8 |
| Michael Finley | SG | 72 | 72 | 2,778 | 325 | 212 | 84 | 39 | 1,342 | 38.6 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .5 | 18.6 |
| Josh Howard | SF | 67 | 29 | 1,589 | 368 | 97 | 69 | 54 | 575 | 23.7 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .8 | 8.6 |
| Shawn Bradley | C | 66 | 5 | 773 | 173 | 20 | 33 | 74 | 219 | 11.7 | 2.6 | .3 | .5 | 1.1 | 3.3 |
| Travis Best | PG | 61 | 1 | 762 | 68 | 112 | 31 | 4 | 171 | 12.5 | 1.1 | 1.8 | .5 | .1 | 2.8 |
| Eduardo Nájera | SF | 58 | 7 | 720 | 156 | 25 | 35 | 19 | 176 | 12.4 | 2.7 | .4 | .6 | .3 | 3.0 |
| Danny Fortson | C | 56 | 20 | 625 | 250 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 217 | 11.2 | 4.5 | .2 | .2 | .2 | 3.9 |
| Marquis Daniels | SG | 56 | 15 | 1,039 | 146 | 116 | 53 | 12 | 477 | 18.6 | 2.6 | 2.1 | .9 | .2 | 8.5 |
| Tony Delk | SG | 33 | 11 | 509 | 59 | 28 | 27 | 7 | 197 | 15.4 | 1.8 | .8 | .8 | .2 | 6.0 |
| Scott Williams$^†$ | C | 27 | 11 | 260 | 60 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 81 | 9.6 | 2.2 | .4 | .2 | .3 | 3.0 |
| Mamadou N'Diaye$^†$ | C | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.3 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .3 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Mavericks only.

### Playoffs

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Dirk Nowitzki | C | 5 | 5 | 212 | 59 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 133 | 42.4 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 26.6 |
| Steve Nash | PG | 5 | 5 | 197 | 26 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 68 | 39.4 | 5.2 | 9.0 | .8 | .0 | 13.6 |
| Michael Finley | SG | 5 | 5 | 196 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 65 | 39.2 | 3.2 | 2.6 | .8 | .6 | 13.0 |
| Marquis Daniels | SG | 5 | 5 | 184 | 31 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 79 | 36.8 | 6.2 | 3.0 | 2.0 | .6 | 15.8 |
| Antoine Walker | PF | 5 | 5 | 140 | 50 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 49 | 28.0 | 10.0 | 2.4 | 1.2 | .6 | 9.8 |
| Antawn Jamison | SF | 5 | 0 | 109 | 25 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 65 | 21.8 | 5.0 | .4 | 1.0 | .4 | 13.0 |
| Josh Howard | SF | 5 | 0 | 86 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 17.2 | 6.4 | .8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 5.4 |
| Eduardo Nájera | SF | 5 | 0 | 57 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 11.4 | 3.4 | .6 | .6 | .4 | 2.4 |
| Scott Williams | C | 3 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .0 | .0 | .3 | .0 |
| Shawn Bradley | C | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Tony Delk | SG | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 |

## Awards and records

* Antawn Jamison, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
* Dirk Nowitzki, All-NBA Third Team
* Dirk Nowitzki, NBA All-Star Game
* Josh Howard, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team
* Marquis Daniels, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team