How To Collect | The Dallas Mavericks

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.

Collecting the Mavericks in 2025

It’s been a time of seismic change for basketball in Dallas, but from the chaos of last season comes the potential for a new dawn. A generational talent has swept into town and should benefit from a quality veteran roster that could find Dallas back in contention faster than you can say Cooper Flagg. 

The consensus top overall pick of this year’s draft, Flagg is one of the main attractions in 2025-26 Topps Basketball. From his highly coveted first-ever rookie card (featuring an official “First Card” stamp) to a wide array of chase-worthy parallels, variations, and inserts, 2025 may just be the year of Cooper Flagg in The Hobby.

Look out for Rise to Stardom, Comic Court, Home Court, All Kings, Hardwood Stars cards, and more. Flagg has MVP-level potential, and the time is now to chase his RCs. He’s even on the cover of the product.

Flagg joins with Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II to form one of the league’s best frontcourts. AD’s new cards should intrigue Mavs collectors, and Lively’s entries include a Flagship Real One Auto. 

Superstar Kyrie Irving and future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson help expand the Mavs’ impressive checklist even further. Irving’s Player Number Variation and All Kings offerings are among his chase cards. With Flagg onboard, the Mavs are one of the biggest stories in the league and in The Hobby. 2025 will be an incredible year for Dallas collectors as Topps helps usher in the Cooper Flagg Era.

Mavericks Mount Rushmore

1998 Topps Chrome Basketball #154 Dirk Nowitzki RC Refractor

2003/04 Topps Chrome Basketball #13 Steve Nash Gold Refractor

2008 Topps Chrome Basketball #55 Jason Kidd Gold Refractor /50

1999 Topps Chrome Basketball #120 Shawn Marion RC Refractor

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.

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