Last Updated on August 12, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Brad Davis spent the majority of his NBA career directing the offense in Dallas, where his steady play and passing ability helped establish the franchise during its early years. Never a player who demanded attention, he earned respect through consistency, toughness, and a team-first approach that made him a dependable presence in the backcourt.

Here is detailed information about basketballer Brad Davis:

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Bradley Ernest Davis
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: December 17, 1955
  • Hometown: Monaca, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm)
  • Weight: 180 pounds (82 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 4 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)

Basketball Career:

  • Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
  • Jersey Number: Primarily #15
  • High School: Monaca High School, Monaca, Pennsylvania
  • College: University of Maryland (1973–1977)
    • Played under Hall of Fame coach Lefty Driesell.
  • NBA Draft:
    • Selected in the 1st round, 15th overall pick of the 1977 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1978)
    2. Indiana Pacers (1978–1979)
    3. Utah Jazz (1980): Brief stint
    4. Dallas Mavericks (1980–1992):
      • Became a franchise cornerstone during his 12 seasons with the Mavericks.
      • Known for his consistency, leadership, and loyalty.
  • Championship Rings: None

Personal Life:

  • Children:
    • Known to have children, but specific details are not widely publicized.
  • Siblings: Information not widely available

Notable Achievements and Legacy:

  • Brad Davis was the first player to have his jersey retired by the Dallas Mavericks (#15).
  • He ranks among the Mavericks’ all-time leaders in games played and assists.
  • Post-retirement, Davis has worked as a broadcaster and in various roles within the Mavericks organization.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Brad Davis was a steady old-school point guard whose value came from orchestration, efficiency, and toughness more than flashy star scoring. Defensively, he filled the role of a competitive team defender at the point of attack, pressuring the ball, taking charges, and using effort and awareness to compensate for limited size and athletic upside. Offensively, he functioned as a table-setter first, running the offense, delivering reliable playmaking, keeping turnovers under control, and adding timely perimeter shooting and efficient scoring when defenses gave him space. Physically, Davis was a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard, not overpowering by NBA standards, but sturdy enough to handle heavy minutes and bring a hard-nosed edge. Put together, his game was built on control, intelligence, unselfishness, and grit, making him the kind of dependable lead guard who kept teams organized and gave them extra value through smart decisions and competitive play. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

The first thing you notice with Brad Davis is how calm every possession feels when he’s handling the ball. He wasn’t interested in winning the first move; he wanted to win the third, patiently walking defenders into screens, changing his angle at the last second and keeping the dribble alive until a cutter flashed open or a help defender leaned just enough to create an easy pass. That’s where his game separated itself. Rather than forcing difficult reads, he consistently simplified the floor for everyone else by putting teammates in positions where the next decision became obvious. He could punish defenders who ducked under picks with his perimeter shooting, but his offense was built far more on timing than volume. It’s easy to overlook how often he manipulated the low man with his eyes before slipping bounce passes through narrow seams, especially in empty-side pick-and-rolls where one hesitation could shift an entire defense. Defensively, he wasn’t built to overwhelm quicker guards in isolation, and bigger backcourts could shoot over him or seek him out after switches, but he compensated by anticipating actions early, staying connected through screens and helping at the nail before recovering to shooters without creating unnecessary rotations behind him. The trade-off was that he wasn’t the type of guard who consistently collapsed a defense through explosive penetration, so possessions occasionally relied on execution rather than individual shot creation. To me, Davis fits best alongside wings and bigs who cut decisively and understand spacing because his biggest strength was rewarding movement the instant it appeared rather than holding the ball waiting for something to happen. His style shares elements with Mark Price as a methodical pick-and-roll organizer, though without the same scoring aggression, while also resembling José Calderón in the way he valued efficiency, ball security and quietly controlling the pace until the defense made the first mistake. — Mat Diekhake, HeatingUp

Basketball-Reference — Brad Davis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and …
NBA.com — Brad Davis | Guard | Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks — Brad Davis had fairytale career with Mavs, ending with jersey retirement