From the minute he stepped on the court, it was clear that Dirk Nowitzki was built different. At just 21 years of age, the Dallas Mavericks seven-footer not only shot the ball with unprecedented confidence, he delivered. In the thick of a memorable All-Star Weekend, Nowitzki gets hot in the three-point shootout, racking up a contest-high 18 points in the first round. Nowitzki would go on to finish his second NBA campaign shooting .379 from beyond the arc on 3.7 attempts per game.

Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki reaches final round of 2000 Three-Point Contest

Lose sight of a slashing threat like Jerry Stackhouse and he’ll immediately turn it against you. After running off a high screen from teammate Dirk Nowitzki, the veteran wing notices a gap in the defense and takes the ball straight to the rack for a hammer against the Indiana Pacers help side. Stackhouse finished with 15 points in the December 26, 2005 win.

Jerry Stackhouse

Jerry Stackhouse seizes opportunity and punches dunk through traffic

If you’ve got the Dallas Mavericks on the ropes, keep the rock away from Dirk Nowitzki. The eagle-eyed big man battles for a loose ball against the Memphis Grizzlies, then instantly pulls up for a game-tying three-pointer in the final possession of regulation. Nowitzki would go on to drop 36 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the overtime playoff victory on April 29, 2006.

Dirk Nowitzki drains game-tying triple to force overtime in 2006 Playoffs

Take away the strong side if you want — Jerry Stackhouse is unphased. The Dallas Mavericks swingman drives hard along the baseline in a playoff game against the San Antonio Spurs but, instead of throwing down a traditional slam, goes under the rim to avoid the outstretched arms of Tim Duncan and crams it on the other side. Stackhouse erupted for 24 points off the bench in the May 7, 2006 matchup.

Jerry Stackhouse drives baseline for slam on far side of rim in 2006 Playoffs

There’s no better stage for adding to one’s legacy than in the NBA postseason. Knotted in a Western Conference Finals battle against the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki pulls up and drains a triple to give himself 50 points and a 3-2 series lead on June 1, 2006.

Dirk Nowitzki pops off for 50 points in pivotal 2006 Conference Finals match

By the time they became teammates in 2008, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd had a combined 22 years of experience between them. Already on Hall of Fame trajectories, only one thing was missing: a championship. The smooth-shooting Nowitzki, sixth all-time in career points, and the elite-passing Kidd, second all-time in assists, were perfect complements to one another’s strengths. The pair’s chemistry was well-established by the first game of the 2010-11 season against the Charlotte Bobcats, combining for 40 points, 15 rebounds and 18 assists in a convincing 101-86 win on October 27, 2010. It was a warning sent to the rest of the league that this season would be a truly unforgettable one, a 57-win campaign that culminated in the franchise’s first and only championship — a 4-2 NBA Finals win over the Miami Heat.

Dallas Mavericks

Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki combine for 40 points, 15 rebounds and 18 assists

The go-ahead three! Shawn Marion of the Dallas Mavericks nails the big-time baseline three pointer to give his team the lead late in late fourth quarter action against the Houston Rockets on November 20, 2013.

Shawn Marion

Shawn Marion spots up from corner and drills clutch three-pointer

The shooter’s bounce! With less than five seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki nails a contested jumper to seal the victory against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden on February 24, 2014. Now that is what you call clutch basketball.

Dirk Nowitzki sinks game-winner at The Garden thanks to generous bounce

While it would take an extra period to settle the score, there was no way J.J. Barea was ending his career night without a victory. The gritty undrafted guard, who played 11 of his 14 NBA seasons across two stints with the Dallas Mavericks, had the ball in his hands in a tie game with time winding down in regulation against the Brooklyn Nets. Barea blew past his defender at the top of the key before burying a one-handed running floater while absorbing a foul by Brook Lopez to give Dallas a three-point lead with 12 seconds remaining. Brooklyn ultimately forced overtime but Barea in turn hit a clutch triple with 2:04 left to help deliver the Mavs a 119-118 win on December 23, 2015. The 2011 NBA champion posted a career-high 32 points on 13 of 21 shooting, while also mixing in 11 assists and five treys.

J.J. Barea

J.J. Barea soars through paint for OT-forcing and-1 runner

After four quarters and two overtimes, Deron Williams was ready to go home — but not until he experienced the joy of hitting a game-winner for his hometown team. The suburban Dallas native gave the sellout Dallas Mavericks crowd a taste of what made him a three-time NBA All-Star as he grabbed the inbound pass on the final play of the second overtime and pump faked his Sacramento Kings defender before draining a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer. The heroic shot sent the crowd into a delirium and turned a would-be gutting two-point loss into a thrilling 117-116 victory on January 5, 2016. Williams shot 10 of 18 for a team-high 25 points to go with four assists and two steals in the Mavericks’ 22nd consecutive home victory over the Kings.

Deron Williams

Deron Williams fuels Dallas frenzy with fadeaway game winner vs. SAC

Following a 38-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the first round, Raymond Felton and the Dallas Mavericks had to dig deep. As soon as Russell Westbrook’s missed 3-pointer with the game tied in the closing minute of the fourth quarter landed in Felton’s hands, the veteran guard was laser-focused on delivering his squad a much-needed win. Felton gained a step on Westbrook on a strong drive to the basket and managed to score a contested, go-ahead layup over Steven Adams with 28 seconds to play. The Thunder never led again, and Felton’s 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists were critical in Dallas tying the series with an 85-84 Game 2 triumph on April 18, 2016. The 21 points were more than double Felton’s regular season average, and he averaged a playoff career-high 15.0 points per game that postseason.

Raymond Felton

Raymond Felton bests Thunder with go-ahead drive in 2016 Playoffs

Athletes spend their lives refining their skills and craft but you’re either born with the magic or you’re not. Mere months into a mesmerizing career, Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Dončić coordinates with teammate Jalen Brunson to cut hard into the corner with 0.6 seconds on the clock, catches a baseline inbound pass then lofts a high-arcing fallaway three into the net as he floats into the Portland Trail Blazers’ bench. Dončić’s three would knot the December 23, 2018 game at the end of regulation and while he wouldn’t claim this one, he would win Rookie of the Year honors, earn a spot on the All-Rookie First Team and pick up five Rookie of the Month nods along the way.

Luka Dončić

Luka Dončić sinks fallaway three with 0.6 left to force OT as rookie

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Dirk Nowitzki

Jerry Stackhouse

Dirk Nowitzki

Jerry Stackhouse

Dirk Nowitzki

Dallas Mavericks

Shawn Marion

Dirk Nowitzki

J.J. Barea

Deron Williams

Raymond Felton

Luka Dončić