Last Updated on May 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Dallas Mavericks have built much of their playoff identity around elite individual scorers. From the legendary postseason performances of Dirk Nowitzki to the explosive modern brilliance of Luka Dončić, Dallas has consistently relied on stars capable of taking over playoff series.

This ranking looks at the greatest playoff scorers in Mavericks history based on postseason points totals, scoring averages, iconic playoff moments, and overall postseason impact.

1. Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest playoff scorer in Dallas Mavericks history by a massive margin. He scored 3,663 playoff points with Dallas, the most in franchise history, while leading the Mavericks through multiple deep postseason runs over nearly two decades. (Land of Basketball)

Nowitzki’s playoff scoring peaked during the 2006 and 2011 playoff runs. He scored 620 points during the 2006 postseason and followed it with 582 points during the 2011 championship run. (Land of Basketball)

His legendary 2011 playoff performance cemented his legacy as one of the greatest postseason scorers in NBA history.

Key Playoff Achievements

  • 2011 NBA champion
  • NBA Finals MVP
  • Franchise leader in playoff points
  • Multiple 600-point playoff runs
  • Mavericks record 50-point playoff game

Dirk’s 50-point performance against the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 Western Conference Finals remains the highest-scoring playoff game in franchise history. (NBA)

2. Luka Dončić

Luka Dončić has already become one of the most dominant playoff scorers the Mavericks have ever seen.

Despite still being early in his career, Luka already ranks second in franchise history in playoff points with more than 1,500 postseason points. (Land of Basketball)

His 635 playoff points during the 2024 postseason set a new franchise record for most points in a single playoff run. (Land of Basketball)

Key Playoff Achievements

  • Franchise record for single-playoff scoring total
  • Multiple 40-point playoff games
  • One of the highest playoff scoring averages in NBA history
  • NBA Finals appearance

Luka’s ability to control games through scoring, passing, and shot creation has already placed him among the greatest postseason performers of his generation.

3. Jason Terry

Jason Terry was one of the Mavericks’ most reliable playoff scorers during the Dirk era.

Known for his confidence and perimeter shooting, Terry delivered countless big postseason performances and ranks third in franchise history in playoff scoring with 1,466 points. (Land of Basketball)

He played a crucial role during Dallas’ 2011 championship run and often provided critical scoring bursts off the bench or as a secondary creator.

Key Playoff Achievements

  • 2011 NBA champion
  • Third in franchise playoff points
  • Elite playoff three-point shooter
  • One of the best microwave scorers in team history

Terry’s fearless shot-making helped Dallas survive numerous high-pressure playoff moments.

4. Rolando Blackman

Rolando Blackman was one of the original great playoff scorers in Mavericks history.

During the 1980s, Blackman helped establish Dallas as a legitimate Western Conference contender. His smooth mid-range scoring and consistency made him one of the most dependable offensive players of his era.

Blackman scored 1,039 playoff points for Dallas and averaged 21.6 points per playoff game with the franchise. (Land of Basketball)

Key Playoff Achievements

  • Over 1,000 playoff points with Dallas
  • Four-time All-Star
  • Elite postseason scoring guard
  • Key player during the franchise’s first playoff success

5. Mark Aguirre

Mark Aguirre was one of the most explosive scorers in early Mavericks history.

He averaged 23.0 points per game in the playoffs for Dallas, one of the highest postseason scoring averages in franchise history. (StatMuse)

Aguirre’s strength, footwork, and ability to score from multiple areas of the floor made him extremely difficult to defend during the 1980s.

Key Playoff Achievements

  • Over 1,000 playoff points with Dallas
  • One of the best playoff scoring averages in franchise history
  • Offensive centerpiece during the early Mavericks era
  • Multiple deep playoff runs

6. Michael Finley

Michael Finley was a major offensive force during Dallas’ resurgence in the early 2000s.

His athletic scoring, transition play, and perimeter shooting helped form one of the league’s most explosive offenses alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash.

Finley scored 995 playoff points with Dallas and was a key contributor during several deep playoff campaigns. (Land of Basketball)

Key Playoff Achievements

  • Nearly 1,000 playoff points with Dallas
  • Elite wing scorer during the early 2000s
  • Strong postseason perimeter shooter
  • Important member of multiple 50-win teams

7. Josh Howard

Josh Howard became a highly productive playoff scorer during Dallas’ mid-2000s peak years.

His athletic slashing ability and improved scoring efficiency helped complement Dirk Nowitzki during several strong postseason runs.

Howard scored 961 playoff points for Dallas and delivered several strong postseason performances during the 2006 and 2007 playoff runs. (Land of Basketball)

Key Playoff Achievements

  • Nearly 1,000 playoff points with Dallas
  • Key scorer during 2006 NBA Finals run
  • Strong two-way playoff contributor
  • Excellent transition scorer

Honorable Mentions

  • Kyrie Irving
  • Steve Nash
  • Nick Van Exel
  • Jalen Brunson
  • Jerry Stackhouse

Final Thoughts

The Dallas Mavericks have featured several elite playoff scorers throughout franchise history, but Dirk Nowitzki still stands clearly above the rest as the greatest postseason scorer the organization has ever had.

At the same time, Luka Dončić is rapidly climbing the franchise leaderboard and already appears capable of eventually challenging many of Dirk’s playoff scoring records if he remains in Dallas long term.

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