The 2003–04 Dallas Mavericks season was the Mavericks' 24th season in the National Basketball Association.2003-04 Dallas Mavericks During the offseason, the Mavericks acquired Antawn Jamison from the Golden State Warriors, and All-Star forward Antoine Walker from the Boston Celtics. Although the team struggled with chemistry with a 15–12 start, the Mavericks went on a nine-game winning streak in January, and won eight of their final ten games. They finished third in the Midwest Division with a 52–30 record. Dirk Nowitzki was the only member of the team to be selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. With the trio of Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash along with NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamison, the Mavericks continued their reputation as the best offensive team in the NBA. Notable were two rookies, Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels, who made an immediate impact, and were both selected to the All-Rookie Second Team.

However, the Mavericks were eliminated quickly four games to one in the playoffs, losing in the first round to their archrivals the Sacramento Kings. Following the season, Nash signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, Walker was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and later returned to the Boston Celtics in midseason, and Jamison was dealt to the Washington Wizards.

The Mavericks sported gray alternate road uniforms for the season which only lasted one game.

Offseason

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 29 Josh Howard SF Wake Forest 2 57 Xue Yuyang FC

Roster

Roster notes Center Shawn Bradley also holds American citizenship, but he played for the German national team and was born in Germany. Shooting guard Tariq Abdul-Wahad missed the entire season due to tendinitis in his left knee.

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

|-style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 28 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Walker, Nowitzki (19) | Dirk Nowitzki (13) | Steve Nash (7) | Staples Center18,997 | 0–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | October 29 | @ Golden State | | Dirk Nowitzki (29) | Dirk Nowitzki (15) | Steve Nash (11) | The Arena in Oakland15,816 | 1–1

|-style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | November 1 | Utah | | Tony Delk (22) | Antawn Jamison (10) | Steve Nash (7) | American Airlines Center19,923 | 2–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | November 3 | Miami | | Dirk Nowitzki (30) | Antoine Walker (9) | Steve Nash (11) | American Airlines Center19,463 | 3–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | November 5 | @ Washington | | Antawn Jamison (21) | Antawn Jamison (9) | Walker, Finley (5) | MCI Center17,455 | 3–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | November 6 | @ Toronto | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Antoine Walker (17) | Antoine Walker (7) | Air Canada Centre17,556 | 3–3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | November 8 | @ San Antonio | | Antawn Jamison (20) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Steve Nash (6) | SBC Center18,797 | 4–3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 11 | New Orleans | | Antoine Walker (21) | Danny Fortson (11) | Steve Nash (11) | American Airlines Center19,820 | 5–3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 9 | November 13 | Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Antoine Walker (12) | Nash, Walker (7) | American Airlines Center19,663 | 6–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 10 | November 15 | @ Memphis | | Finley, Nowitzki (19) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Steve Nash (8) | Pyramid Arena16,195 | 6–4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | November 17 | Portland | | Michael Finley (25) | Steve Nash (10) | Steve Nash (12) | American Airlines Center19,471 | 7–4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | November 20 | San Antonio | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Antoine Walker (11) | Steve Nash (7) | American Airlines Center19,989 | 8–4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | November 22 | Denver | | Antoine Walker (25) | Antoine Walker (14) | Steve Nash (8) | American Airlines Center20,122 | 9–4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | November 25 | Chicago | | Michael Finley (28) | Danny Fortson (13) | Steve Nash (7) | American Airlines Center19,993 | 10–4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | November 26 | @ Phoenix | | Antawn Jamison (17) | Antoine Walker (8) | Steve Nash (4) | America West Arena17,205 | 10–5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 16 | November 28 | @ Denver | | Antoine Walker (30) | Antoine Walker (15) | Steve Nash (9) | Pepsi Center19,628 | 10–6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | November 29 | Minnesota | | Michael Finley (25) | Antoine Walker (10) | Walker, Nash (3) | American Airlines Center20,089 | 11–6

|-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | December 2 | Washington | | Antawn Jamison (21) | Michael Finley (12) | Antoine Walker (7) | American Airlines Center19,529 | 12–6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 19 | December 4 | L.A. Lakers | | Steve Nash (30) | Antoine Walker (12) | Steve Nash (8) | American Airlines Center20,596 | 12–7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 20 | December 6 | Orlando | | Antoine Walker (24) | Antoine Walker (16) | Steve Nash (9) | American Airlines Center19,843 | 13–7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 21 | December 10 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Michael Finley (38) | Antawn Jamison (8) | Antoine Walker (10) | Staples Center15,236 | 13–8 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | December 12 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Nowitzki, Walker (27) | Josh Howard (13) | Walker, Nash (7) | Staples Center18,997 | 14–8 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 23 | December 15 | Toronto | | Antoine Walker (27) | Josh Howard (14) | Steve Nash (11) | American Airlines Center19,846 | 15–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | December 17 | @ Boston | | Dirk Nowitzki (30) | Danny Fortson (16) | Steve Nash (9) | FleetCenter18,624 | 15–9 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 | December 18 | @ Minnesota | | Steve Nash (27) | Danny Fortson (9) | Steve Nash (9) | Target Center17,794 | 15–10 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | December 20 | L.A. Clippers | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Danny Fortson (10) | Steve Nash (11) | American Airlines Center20,058 | 15–11 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 27 | December 23 | @ Portland | | Antawn Jamison (20) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Walker, Nash (6) | Rose Garden Arena14,556 | 15–12 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 28 | December 25 | @ Sacramento | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Dirk Nowitzki (14) | Steve Nash (11) | ARCO Arena17,317 | 16–12 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 29 | December 27 | Memphis | | Michael Finley (24) | Dirk Nowitzki (17) | Steve Nash (10) | American Airlines Center20,059 | 17–12 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 30 | December 30 | Milwaukee | | Antoine Walker (22) | Antoine Walker (14) | Steve Nash (12) | American Airlines Center20,095 | 18–12

|-style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | January 2 | @ Milwaukee | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (14) | Steve Nash (10) | Bradley Center18,717 | 18–13 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | January 3 | Minnesota | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Nowitzki, Jamison (9) | Steve Nash (13) | American Airlines Center19,936 | 19–13 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 33 | January 5 | @ Utah | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Finley, Daniels (4) | Delta Center19,911 | 19–14 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | January 7 | Golden State | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Nowitzki, Fortson (11) | Steve Nash (12) | American Airlines Center20,185 | 20–14 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 35 | January 9 | Indiana | | Dirk Nowitzki (20) | Antoine Walker (9) | Steve Nash (7) | American Airlines Center20,315 | 20–15 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 36 | January 11 | @ Detroit | | Steve Nash (18) | Dirk Nowitzki (15) | Steve Nash (10) | The Palace of Auburn Hills22,076 | 20–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | January 12 | @ New York | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Antoine Walker (12) | Antoine Walker (11) | Madison Square Garden18,230 | 21–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | January 14 | Philadelphia | | Michael Finley (32) | Antoine Walker (17) | Antoine Walker (13) | American Airlines Center20,221 | 22–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 39 | January 16 | @ Denver | | Dirk Nowitzki (22) | Antoine Walker (10) | Travis Best (6) | Pepsi Center19,216 | 23–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 40 | January 17 | @ Portland | | Michael Finley (33) | Dirk Nowitzki (7) | Antoine Walker (11) | Rose Garden Arena19,018 | 24–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | January 20 | New Jersey | | Antoine Walker (22) | Antoine Walker (13) | Dirk Nowitzki (6) | American Airlines Center19,906 | 25–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 | January 22 | L.A. Lakers | | Michael Finley (31) | three players tied (9) | Steve Nash (8) | American Airlines Center20,512 | 26–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 43 | January 23 | @ Chicago | | Dirk Nowitzki (25) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Steve Nash (7) | United Center18,761 | 27–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 25 | Sacramento | | Michael Finley (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Steve Nash (13) | American Airlines Center20,284 | 28–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | January 27 | @ Seattle | | Dirk Nowitzki (43) | Antoine Walker (8) | Steve Nash (8) | KeyArena15,835 | 29–16 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 46 | January 28 | @ Utah | | Michael Finley (29) | Shawn Bradley (7) | Antoine Walker (8) | Delta Center19,515 | 29–17 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 47 | January 31 | Denver | | Michael Finley (37) | Antoine Walker (10) | Antoine Walker (6) | American Airlines Center20,463 | 29–18

|-style="background:#cfc;" | 48 | February 3 | Golden State | | Michael Finley (23) | Antawn Jamison (12) | Steve Nash (8) | American Airlines Center19,865 | 30–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 49 | February 4 | @ New Orleans | | Dirk Nowitzki (28) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Steve Nash (12) | New Orleans Arena12,274 | 31–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 50 | February 7 | Detroit | | Dirk Nowitzki (40) | Dirk Nowitzki (8) | Steve Nash (11) | American Airlines Center20,357 | 32–18 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 51 | February 9 | @ Atlanta | | Michael Finley (24) | Antoine Walker (12) | Steve Nash (11) | Philips Arena9,713 | 32–19 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 52 | February 10 | New York | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Steve Nash (8) | American Airlines Center20,363 | 33–19 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |-style="background:#fcc;" | 53 | February 17 | @ Memphis | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Josh Howard (11) | Steve Nash (10) | Pyramid Arena14,742 | 33–20 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 54 | February 18 | @ Cleveland | | Michael Finley (23) | Antoine Walker (11) | Steve Nash (10) | Gund Arena18,349 | 34–20 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 55 | February 21 | Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (25) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Steve Nash (9) | American Airlines Center20,431 | 35–20 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 56 | February 24 | L.A. Clippers | | Antoine Walker (21) | Antawn Jamison (10) | Steve Nash (8) | American Airlines Center20,070 | 36–20 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 57 | February 26 | San Antonio | | Michael Finley (30) | Antawn Jamison (8) | Steve Nash (9) | American Airlines Center20,458 | 37–20 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 58 | February 28 | Portland | | Antoine Walker (25) | Antoine Walker (8) | Steve Nash (11) | American Airlines Center20,358 | 38–20

|-style="background:#cfc;" | 59 | March 2 | Seattle | | Michael Finley (35) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Marquis Daniels (9) | American Airlines Center19,954 | 39–20 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 60 | March 3 | @ Minnesota | | Finley, Daniels (16) | Danny Fortson (10) | Marquis Daniels (8) | Target Center19,006 | 39–21 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 61 | March 5 | @ San Antonio | | Dirk Nowitzki (21) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Steve Nash (12) | SBC Center18,797 | 39–22 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 62 | March 7 | @ Houston | | Steve Nash (22) | Michael Finley (7) | Steve Nash (9) | Toyota Center18,134 | 39–23 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 63 | March 8 | Phoenix | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Eduardo Nájera (9) | Michael Finley (5) | American Airlines Center20,357 | 40–23 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 64 | March 11 | @ Sacramento | | Dirk Nowitzki (21) | Dirk Nowitzki (8) | Steve Nash (7) | ARCO Arena17,317