The 1981–82 Dallas Mavericks season was the second season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Rookie Jay Vincent led the team in scoring with 21.4 points per game and earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors. The Mavericks improved to 28–54, getting out of the Midwest Division cellar as they finished above the Utah Jazz.
See main article: article and 1981 NBA draft. The 1981 NBA draft brought three players who would become vital parts of the team. The Mavs selected 6'6" forward Mark Aguirre with the first pick, 6'6" guard Rolando Blackman 9th, and 6'7" forward Jay Vincent 24th. By the end of his seven-year Mavs career, Aguirre would average 24.6 points per game. Blackman contributed 19.2 points over his 11-year career in Dallas.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Mark Aguirre | SF | DePaul | ||
| 1 | 9 | Rolando Blackman | SG | Kansas State | ||
| 2 | 24 | Jay Vincent | SF | Michigan State | ||
| 2 | 43 | Elston Turner | SG/SF | Mississippi | ||
| 3 | 47 | Art Housey | Kansas | |||
| 4 | 70 | Eddie Moss | Syracuse | |||
| 5 | 93 | Pete Budko | North Carolina |
| 1981-82 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 | |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 | |
| Washington | 4–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6|
9:00p.m. CST| @Los Angeles| L 111–121| Aguirre (23)| LaGarde (11)| Davis (7)| The Forum
9,870| 1–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 13|
7:35p.m. CST| Los Angeles| L 110–125| Vincent (20)| Vincent (13)| Davis (9)| Reunion Arena
14,266| 1–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 14|
8:35p.m. CST| @ Denver| L 133–139| Aguirre (31)| LaGarde (8)| Davis (15)| McNichols Sports Arena
8,533| 1–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 18|
7:35p.m. CST| Denver| W 109–105| Aguirre (26)| Turner (8)| Davis (13)| Reunion Arena
7,620| 3–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24|
6:30p.m. CST| @ Boston| L 92–109| Vincent (27)| LaGarde (9)| Davis,
Lloyd,
Spanarkel,
Turner (4)| Boston Garden
15,320| 5–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 28|
7:35p.m. CST| Denver| L 117–124| Vincent (33)| Cooper,
Nimphius,
Vincent (8)| Bristow,
Davis (7)| Reunion Arena
9,580| 6–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 36|
8:35p.m. CST| @ Denver| L 113–128| Vincent (22)| Bristow,
Cooper (8)| Bristow (7)| McNichols Sports Arena
7,990| 9–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 57|
7:35p.m. CST| Boston| L 97–101| Vincent (31)| Bristow,
Cooper (8)| Bristow (12)| Reunion Arena
17,134| 19–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 64|
9:00p.m. CST| @ Los Angeles| L 116–138| Blackman (25)| Vincent (7)| Davis (6)| The Forum
13,000| 22–42|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 66|
7:35p.m. CST| Los Angeles| L 106–112| Vincent (22)| Vincent (13)| Cooper (5)| Reunion Arena
17,134| 22–44|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68|
9:30p.m. CST| @ Los Angeles| W 118–116| Aguirre (23)| Vincent (10)| Spanarkel (7)| The Forum
13,516| 23–45|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73|
7:35p.m. CST| Denver| L 119–120| Vincent (31)| Cooper (10)| Bristow (14)| Reunion Arena
7,322| 24–49|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 82|
8:35p.m. CST| @ Denver| L 124–130| Vincent (26)| Aguirre,
Vincent (9)| Bristow (10)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,009| 28–54
| Player | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 82 | 82 | 2,614 | 226 | 509 | 73 | 6 | 993 | 31.9 | 2.8 | 6.2 | .9 | .1 | 12.1 | ||
| SF | 82 | 54 | 2,035 | 339 | 448 | 65 | 6 | 573 | 24.8 | 4.1 | 5.5 | .8 | .1 | 7.0 | ||
| SG | 82 | 16 | 1,979 | 254 | 105 | 46 | 30 | 1,091 | 24.1 | 3.1 | 1.3 | .6 | .4 | 13.3 | ||
| SG | 82 | 1 | 1,755 | 210 | 206 | 86 | 9 | 827 | 21.4 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .1 | 10.1 | ||
| PF | 81 | 62 | 2,626 | 565 | 176 | 89 | 22 | 1,732 | 32.4 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 1.1 | .3 | 21.4 | ||
| SF | 80 | 62 | 1,996 | 301 | 189 | 75 | 2 | 661 | 25.0 | 3.8 | 2.4 | .9 | .0 | 8.3 | ||
| C | 76 | 38 | 1,818 | 550 | 115 | 37 | 106 | 682 | 23.9 | 7.2 | 1.5 | .5 | 1.4 | 9.0 | ||
| PF | 74 | 17 | 1,047 | 163 | 67 | 15 | 7 | 287 | 14.1 | 2.2 | .9 | .2 | .1 | 3.9 | ||
| C | 63 | 27 | 1,085 | 295 | 61 | 17 | 82 | 337 | 17.2 | 4.7 | 1.0 | .3 | 1.3 | 5.3 | ||
| SF | 51 | 20 | 1,468 | 249 | 164 | 37 | 22 | 955 | 28.8 | 4.9 | 3.2 | .7 | .4 | 18.7 | ||
| C | 47 | 28 | 909 | 210 | 49 | 17 | 17 | 312 | 19.3 | 4.5 | 1.0 | .4 | .4 | 6.6 | ||
| PF | 35 | 0 | 248 | 61 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 81 | 7.1 | 1.7 | .4 | .1 | .1 | 2.3 | ||
| SG | 13 | 3 | 150 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 44 | 11.5 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .4 | .1 | 3.4 |
| Player | Signed | Former team | |
| Kurt Nimphius | September 2, 1981 | Denver Nuggets | |
| Player | Left | New team | |
| Abdul Jeelani | October 5, 1981 | ||
| Chad Kinch | October 5, 1981 | ||
| Ollie Mack | December 22, 1981 | ||