It’s been nearly 20 years since I’ve had this feeling—this unfiltered excitement. Back then, I didn’t know how rare it would be during my sports fandom. Now it’s returned, as I look at this Dallas Mavericks’ team and envision its future.
In the 1999-00 season, the Mavericks found something after a decade of irrelevance. It was the dawn of the best era in Dallas basketball history. We’re still talking about it. Fifteen playoff appearances in 16 seasons, two trips to the NBA Finals, one championship, and a slew of timeless memories. All of it seems so long ago after a few years wandering the wasteland that is the bottom of the standings.