1994–1996: Arrival of Jason Kidd The addition of Jason Kidd infused the Mavericks with new life in 1994–95. Kidd averaged 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in his rookie season and led the league in triple-doubles. Roy Tarpley was allowed to return to the league after three years and helped with 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. The tandem of Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn combined as the league's highest-scoring pair of teammates. On separate occasions, Mashburn and Jackson scored 50 points in a game that season. Mashburn contributed 24.1 points per game, fifth in the NBA; Jackson averaged 25.7 points but suffered a severe ankle sprain in February, which caused him to miss the regular season's remainder. Second-year forward Popeye Jones had a great year as well, as he averaged 10.6 rebounds and led the NBA in offensive rebounds. The Mavericks' improvement was dramatic. The team jumped to 36–46, 10th in the Western Conference, and only five games behind the Denver Nuggets for the eighth and final playoff spot. It was the most significant one-year improvement in the team's history and the highest in the NBA. Many expected the Mavericks' improvement to continue with the franchise's first foray into the NBA playoffs since 1990. But despite a 4–0 start, the 1995–96 season was a disappointment about every conceivable way. For the second time in his career, Roy Tarpley was given a lifelong ban from the NBA for repeated violations of the anti-drug policy—he never played in the NBA again. Jamal Mashburn had season-ending surgery to repair his sore right knee, only 18 games into the Mavericks' schedule. The team's two remaining stars, Jason Kidd and Jim Jackson bickered throughout the season, though neither of them had trouble establishing his stardom. Jackson led the team scoring with 19.6 ppg, made 121 three-pointers, and was the only Mav to start 82 games. Kidd became the first Maverick to be elected a starter in the NBA All-Star Game and finished second in the league in assists and fourth in steals while averaging 16.6 ppg. George McCloud, who averaged 9.6 ppg in his previous year, blew away his career-high scoring average as the Mavs resorted to the outside shot time and again due to their lack of an inside scoring threat. McCloud averaged 18.9 ppg and made 257 three-pointers, equaling the second-highest individual season total in league history.
1994–1996 arrival of jason kidd the addition of jason kidd infused the mavericks with new life in 1994–95 kidd averaged 117 points 54 rebounds and 77 assists in his rookie season and led the league in triple-doubles roy tarpley was allowed to return to the league after three years and helped with 126 points and 82 rebounds per game the tandem of jim jackson and jamal mashburn combined as the league's highest-scoring pair of teammates on separate occasions mashburn and jackson scored 50 points in a game that season mashburn contributed 241 points per game fifth in the nba; jackson averaged 257 points but suffered a severe ankle sprain in february which caused him to miss the regular season's remainder second-year forward popeye jones had a great year as well as he averaged 106 rebounds and led the nba in offensive rebounds the mavericks' improvement was dramatic the team jumped to 36–46 10th in the western conference and only five games behind the denver nuggets for the eighth and final playoff spot it was the most significant one-year improvement in the team's history and the highest in the nba many expected the mavericks' improvement to continue with the franchise's first foray into the nba playoffs since 1990 but despite a 4–0 start the 1995–96 season was a disappointment about every conceivable way for the second time in his career roy tarpley was given a lifelong ban from the nba for repeated violations of the anti-drug policy—he never played in the nba again jamal mashburn had season-ending surgery to repair his sore right knee only 18 games into the mavericks' schedule the team's two remaining stars jason kidd and jim jackson bickered throughout the season though neither of them had trouble establishing his stardom jackson led the team scoring with 196 ppg made 121 three-pointers and was the only mav to start 82 games kidd became the first maverick to be elected a starter in the nba all-star game and finished second in the league in assists and fourth in steals while averaging 166 ppg george mccloud who averaged 96 ppg in his previous year blew away his career-high scoring average as the mavs resorted to the outside shot time and again due to their lack of an inside scoring threat mccloud averaged 189 ppg and made 257 three-pointers equaling the second-highest individual season total in league history