Where to Start Collecting the Mavs
In the 21st century, the Dallas Mavericks have been one of the most consistent franchises in professional basketball. From the long-running Dirk Nowitzki era to the passing of the torch to all-world talent Luka Doncic, the story of the Mavs includes three finals appearances, one title, and a whole slew of epic postseason battles with some of modern basketball’s greatest teams.
Let’s take a look at how to collect the Dallas Mavericks.
Mavericks Mount Rushmore
1998 Topps Chrome Basketball #154 Dirk Nowitzki RC Refractor
Player Accomplishments
• 2011 Champion
• 2011 Finals MVP
• 14x All-Star
Card Info
• Most valuable Nowitzki Topps card, has sold for as much as $35,100
Player Impact
• Led Dallas to two finals, an upset championship win, and turned the franchise into a model of consistency, winning 50 or more games for eleven straight seasons
2003/04 Topps Chrome Basketball #13 Steve Nash Gold Refractor
Player Accomplishments
• 2x MVP
• 3x First-Team
• 8x All-Star
Card Info
• Key Nash Mavericks card from one of Chrome’s most famous sets
Player Impact
• A phenomenal point guard, Nash wowed Mavericks fans and helped the franchise achieve relevancy after a decade without postseason play
2008 Topps Chrome Basketball #55 Jason Kidd Gold Refractor /50
Player Accomplishments
• 2011 Champion
• 1995 Rookie of the Year
• 10x All-Star
Card Info
• Kidd’s offering in popular Chrome set featuring the star in his return to Dallas
Player Impact
• From his Rookie of the Year season to a return as an essential veteran role on a championship team, Kidd, now the team’s head coach, is a huge part of the Mavericks’ story
1999 Topps Chrome Basketball #120 Shawn Marion RC Refractor
Player Accomplishments
• 2011 Champion
• 2x Third-Team
• 4x All-Star
Card Info
• Marion RC announcing his arrival to the Phoenix Suns
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Player Impact
• Formerly an All-Star in Phoenix, Marion’s adjustment to a secondary role helped the Mavericks turn into champions
Heartbreak and Triumph
Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks into elite company with some of the greatest shot-making we’ve ever seen from a player his size. But it took a long time to reach the summit. Five straight 50-win seasons failed to net a run to the Finals, and when the team finally got there, they ran into a one-man wrecking crew in Dwyane Wade.
In some ways, the next season was even tougher, as a 67-win team suffered one of the league’s toughest upsets in history, losing to the We Believe Warriors of 2007.
In 2011, it was Dallas’ turn to play spoiler, as Nowitzki led an intelligent, clutch group to an upset win over LeBron James and that superteam in Miami. Nowitzki rightfully got his due and remains one of the leading lights of The Hobby when it comes to the Mavericks. Players that join him from the era include the Jet, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion, Steve Nash, and Jason Kidd.
Three J’s in Chrome
Before the success of the 2000’s, the Mavericks had some memorable groups that brought excitement to basketball in Dallas. The three J’s brought brief hope and a flash of possibility to a franchise, and while the group was quickly broken up, the trio appeared in 1996 Topps Chrome, in addition to other Topps sets, and collectors may want to capture that fleeting moment of what might have been.
While Jason Kidd left in 1996, he would eventually return to play a key role in Dallas’ 2011 championship run. This PSA 9 sold in September 2025 for $240.
Fan-Favorite Mavericks
Derek Harper spent the first 10 years of his career with the Mavs, earning two All-Defensive Second-Team nods in the process. He teamed with three-time All-Star Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, and 1988 Sixth Man of the Year Roy Tarpley on a beloved Dallas team that went toe-to-toe with the Lakers Dynasty, taking Magic and Co. to seven games in the 1988 Western Conference Finals.
The team had six players average double-figure scoring in the series. Harper had his No. 12 retired by the franchise. Aguirre, Blackman, Tarpley, and Harper are all great additions to a Mavericks collection.
We also couldn’t possibly talk Dallas Mavericks fan favorites without including guard J.J. Berea. He endeared himself to the city with his relentless energy, competitiveness, and clutch play. Undrafted, Barea made Dallas home, going on to be mission critical to the team’s run to the 2011 title. The second Puerto Rican player to win a championship, Barea can be found in Mavs colors in 2009 Topps Basketball.
The Brain Trust
Today, Dallas is in a period of transition, having dealt one of the most important athletes in the modern Hobby, Luka Doncic, after one of the greatest starts to a career in league history. Now, with rookie phenom Cooper Flagg surrounded by a talented veteran core including Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, the future still features a nod to the past.
One of the key parts of the Dallas brain trust is Assistant GM and two-time All-Star Michael Finley. The athletic shooter combined with a young Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki to play some phenomenal offense, as the Mavs began their ascent to title contender. He’s featured in the popular Chrome insert, Apparitions, among others, while his RC is found in 2005 Topps Basketball.
Then, there’s Jason Kidd. One of the smartest point guards ever, the legend who ranks third in assists in league history now leads the Mavericks from the bench. Kidd’s cards are some of the most valuable in the Mavericks Hobby, and there are a whole series of offerings from his long and storied career that are there for the chasing.
Capturing History Your Way
Dallas has been home to some of the best basketball players we’ve ever seen, from Kidd to Nash to Dirk to Doncic. Consistently competitive and almost always exciting, the Mavericks give collectors a whole myriad of ways in which to build a personal and compelling team collection.
