The Dallas Mavericks owned by Donald Carter who paid a $12 million expansion team takes the floor with a young inexperienced team, by passing aging stars like Earl Monroe, Rick Barry, and Pete Maravich for players with less than three years’ experience. However, things did not go smoothly in the draft when top pick Kiki Vandeweghe refused to sign forcing a trade to the Denver Nuggets.

The Mavericks would get off to a rousing start when the beat the San Antonio Spurs, who once played in the ABA as the Dallas Chaparrals, in their first game. However, the Mavs would win just five of their next 45 games on the way to an awful 15-67 season.