But the trio of Jim Jackson, Jason Kidd and Jamal Mashburn all soon were dealt and out went the lights.

Kidd was the first to go in a deal that netted Dallas Sam Cassell, Michael Finley and A.C. Green. Then Jamal Mashburn was traded to Miami for Sasha Danilovic, Martin Murrsepp and Kurt Thomas. Three days later Jim Jackson was gone to New Jersey in a deal for Shawn Bradley.

Three years of ineptness followed.

If it's any consolation, Mavs fans, the trio made the team's all-decade team, along with Derek Harper at the point guard, Roy Tarpley at power forward and Bradley at the post.

Tarpley could've had an outstanding NBA career (he averaged 16.8 points and 13.1 rebounds in 1990), but couldn't say no to drugs.

Memorable moments
As these are the Mavs, most of the moments --- at least in the 90s --- are infamous. The most damaging brain freeze may be the nonsensical trade of superstar point guard Jason Kidd to the Suns. Kidd could be the best pure point in the game.

Best team: 1989-90
It was the last of the Mavs' glory years. With Derek Harper, Rolando Blackman, Roy Tarpley, Sam Perkins and Adrian Dantley, Dallas was getting a little long in the tooth but the veterans were good for a 47-35 regular-season record and its only playoff appearance of the '90s.

The Mavs didn't last long, however, as the Portland Trail Blazers swept them, 3-0, in the opening round.

Worst team: 1992-93
The Adubato-led club won just 11 games, flirting with setting the NBA mark for the worst regular-season record.