Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Rolando Blackman was an All-Star NBA shooting guard whose smooth mid-range scoring, clutch shot-making, and efficient offensive game made him a cornerstone of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 1980s. A polished two-way wing with outstanding footwork and dependable perimeter shooting, Blackman thrived as a primary scoring option while providing veteran leadership and consistent playoff-caliber production.

Here is the detailed information about Rolando Blackman:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Rolando Antonio Blackman
  • Nationality: Panamanian-American
  • Age: Born February 26, 1959
  • Hometown: Born in Panama City, Panama; raised in Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm)
  • Weight: 190 pounds (86 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 15 (US)
  • Jersey Number: 22 (Dallas Mavericks), 20 (New York Knicks)
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
  • High School: William E. Grady High School, Brooklyn, New York
  • College: Kansas State University (1977–1981)
  • NBA Draft: 1981, 1st round, 9th overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks
  • Teams Played For:
    • Dallas Mavericks (1981–1992)
    • New York Knicks (1992–1994)
    • Played internationally in Italy and Greece after his NBA career
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Rolando Blackman has children, but detailed public information is limited.
  • Siblings: Information on his siblings is not widely available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Rolando Blackman’s player archetype was that of a polished two-way scoring guard, a smooth shooting wing who could carry offense without sacrificing discipline on the other end. Offensively, he worked as a primary perimeter scorer and secondary creator, with Kansas State highlighting his versatility through both scoring and assists, while NBA historical coverage describes him as a sweet-shooting guard who became one of Dallas’ central offensive pieces during its rise in the 1980s. At 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds, he had strong size for a shooting guard, which helped him play through contact, rise comfortably into midrange looks, and defend bigger wings. Defensively, his role was not just cosmetic either: Kansas State’s own historical profile specifically points to his shut-down defender abilities, which fits the broader picture of Blackman as a reliable perimeter stopper as well as a four-time All-Star scorer. Overall, his play style blended shot-making, poise, size, and two-way versatility, making him the kind of guard who could score efficiently, function within a team structure, and still take on hard defensive assignments. (Kansas State University Athletics)

Scouting Report

Rolando Blackman always gave the impression that he was dictating the possession without needing to dominate it. Plenty of scorers rely on speed or endless dribbles to manufacture shots; Blackman did it with footwork, balance and impeccable timing. The first thing you notice is how comfortable he was operating from the mid-post and the elbows, using reverse pivots, shoulder fakes and one-dribble pull-ups to create just enough separation before defenders could crowd his release. He was equally dangerous curling off pin-downs or relocating after an entry pass, catching the ball already squared to the basket and getting into his shooting motion with almost no wasted movement. That’s what made him so difficult to disrupt. He rarely looked hurried. As a passer, he wasn’t chasing spectacular reads, but he consistently recognised when the defence sent a second defender, making the simple kick-out or interior feed before the window disappeared. Defensively, Blackman competed with intelligence more than physical overwhelm. He stayed connected through screens, used strong positioning to deny driving angles and understood when to sink toward the nail without abandoning shooters, making him dependable within team concepts even if he wasn’t generating a stream of steals. The trade-off was that he wasn’t an explosive isolation creator against the quickest perimeter defenders, and he wasn’t the sort of wing who consistently collapsed an entire defence with relentless rim pressure. His offence was built on precision rather than chaos. To me, his ideal role was alongside a primary ball-handler who could bend the defence first, allowing Blackman to punish rotating defenders as a secondary scorer while providing another steady decision-maker whenever the ball swung his way. There are elements of Allan Houston in the smooth, economical scoring package, while his ability to punish defenders from the mid-range without monopolising possessions also brings to mind Rip Hamilton when Hamilton chose to attack from controlled post-ups instead of endless movement off screens.

Fun Facts

  • Blackman was a 4-time NBA All-Star (1985, 1986, 1987, 1990) and is regarded as one of the greatest players in Dallas Mavericks history.
  • His jersey number (22) was retired by the Mavericks.
  • He later worked as an assistant coach and in player development roles, contributing to basketball both in the U.S. and internationally.

Sources:

NBA.com — Top 5 all-time Dallas Mavericks scoring leaders
Kansas State Athletics — K-State’s ‘All Sesquicentennial’ Team – Part 1
Kansas State Athletics — SE: Blackman Inducted into College Basketball Hall of Fame