The Mavericks continued to struggle with a 9–23 start, as Gary Trent played just eleven games due to hamstring and groin injuries. However, after the slow start, the team then won 11 of their next 15 games. At midseason, the Mavs signed flamboyant power forward Dennis Rodman on February 3, a month after Cuban bought the team. However, Rodman's behavior issues led to a very short (12 game) tenure in Dallas before he was released to free agency in early March. Michael Finley averaged 22.6 points per game and was named NBA All-Star for the first time in his career, as he was selected to play in the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland. Second-year star Dirk Nowitzki showed improvement averaging 17.5 points per game. The Mavericks won nine of their final ten games in April, and finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record. However, they missed the playoffs for the tenth straight season.