With the addition of D’Angelo Russell, the Dallas Mavericks have continued their trend of signing former Brooklyn Nets point guards. In a practice that goes back 17 years, we take a look at 7 former Nets guards that the Mavs have signed.
The Dallas Mavericks have developed a reputation for acquiring some intriguing point guard talent over the last few decades. With the latest addition of D’Angelo Russell, however, a different kind of trend has emerged.
In the last 17 years, the Mavericks have shown an affinity for signing or trading for former Brooklyn Nets point guards. Dating back to the acquisition of Jason Kidd, the Mavs have continued this practice, with Russell becoming the seventh on the list.
Given the kind of legacies most of these players have enjoyed on both teams, we take a closer look at the history of the seven players whom Dallas acquired after their careers in Brooklyn.
Jason Kidd
Kidd’s career with the New Jersey Nets was marked by some incredible accomplishments. Emerging as one of the premier point guards in the game, Kidd established himself as the driving force of the Nets’ offense. In doing so, he even led them to the NBA Finals, where they unfortunately came up short against the Los Angeles Lakers.
After being traded to the Mavericks midway through the 2007-08 season, the veteran point guard redefined himself. In the process of rediscovering his All-Star form, Kidd transformed Dallas’ offense, averaging 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game in his second season with the team.
In due time, destiny came calling again, as the Mavericks made it to the NBA Finals in 2011. With Dirk Nowitzki leading one of the most remarkable title runs in NBA history, Kidd finally secured a ring, cementing his legacy with the team.
Kidd’s most productive years were with the Nets, where he averaged 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game between 2001-2008.
With the Mavs, the 10-time All-Star put up 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 8.4 assists before leaving the team in 2012. He joined the Knicks for a season before retiring.
It’s almost like Kidd’s fate is attached to Dallas. After being drafted by them in 1994, he spent four years with the team before being traded. In his second stint, he won a title. Now, as the team’s head coach, he will aim to bring success to the city again.
Devin Harris
Much like Kidd, Harris also started his career with the Mavericks after being drafted by the team in 2004. As a guard with a quick first step, he showed a lot of upside as an offensive player.
Interestingly enough, Harris was traded from Dallas to New Jersey as part of the deal that brought Kidd to the Mavericks. But this worked in his favor, as his four seasons with the Nets were the most productive and successful ones in his career.
After earning an All-Star selection in 2009, the guard established himself as the offensive focal point of the Nets, averaging a career-best 21.3 points and 6.9 assists during the 2008-09 season.
Harris eventually returned to the Mavericks in the 2013-14 season, acting primarily as a bench player offering veteran leadership. After parting ways with the Mavs midway through the 2017-18 season, he returned for the 2018-19 campaign to finish his career with the franchise.
With Dallas, the guard recorded an average of 8.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
Deron Williams
Deron Williams’ tenure with the Nets marked both the peak and decline of a once-elite NBA point guard. Acquired in a trade from the Utah Jazz in 2011, Williams was expected to be the franchise centerpiece heading into their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn.
In his first complete season with the Nets, Williams became an All-Star, sadly for the last time in his career. In the 2011-12 season, he put up averages of 18.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.
After the franchise moved to Brooklyn, he saw a steady drop-off in productivity over the next three seasons, paving the way for his departure for Dallas in 2015.
By the time he came to the Mavericks, he was far from being the All-Star he once was. But he still brought key veteran leadership and acted as a reliable point guard off the bench during his two seasons with the team.
With the Nets, Williams recorded an average of 16.6 points and 7.5 assists across five seasons with the team. Meanwhile, with the Mavericks, he put up 13.7 points and 6.2 assists over two seasons.
Yogi Ferrell
Yogi Ferrell’s NBA career was marked by his stint with the Dallas Mavericks. After being drafted by the Brooklyn Nets, he was traded to Dallas in his rookie season.
With a very short career in Brooklyn, the guard set out to make an impact in Dallas in the 2016-17 season. After 36 games with the Mavs, Ferrell showcased his ability as a two-way player, putting up an average of 11.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
He followed up this performance with another solid season in Dallas, where he put up 10.2 points and 2.5 assists per game while playing in all 82 games.
Unfortunately, this also happened to be the end of his career in Dallas, as he found himself joining the Sacramento Kings for the 2018-19 season.
Spencer Dinwiddie
Spencer Dinwiddie, unlike the other players on this list, has had multiple stints with the Nets and the Mavericks. After firmly establishing himself as a score-first guard with Brooklyn early in his career, Dinwiddie rose in stature in the 2018-19 season.
Finishing fourth in the 6MOY race that season, Dinwiddie recorded an average of 16.8 points and 4.8 assists per game, displaying his potential. The following season, he soared even higher, putting up 20.6 points and 6.8 rebounds while becoming one of the Nets’ primary offensive options.
Unfortunately, disaster struck Dinwiddie in the 2020-21 season, as he was sidelined with injury three games into the season. This marked the beginning of his downfall.
In the 2021-22 season, he joined the Mavericks for the first time. In Dallas, Dinwiddie became a productive player. Paired with Luka Doncic in the backcourt, he showcased his capabilities as a starter and averaged 15.8 points and 3.9 assists that season.
With his contributions, the Mavs made it to the WCF as well, where they unfortunately came up short against the Golden State Warriors.
The following season saw him return to the Nets after being traded ahead of the 2023 deadline, only to leave Brooklyn again midway through the 2023-24 season.
Dinwiddie returned to the Mavericks for the 2024-25 season, where he recorded an average of 11.0 points and 4.4 assists per game. But as a free agent on the market now, it seems unlikely that he will return for a second stint.
In a career marked by several back-and-forth moves, Dinwiddie spent seven years with the Nets and three years with the Mavericks. With the Nets, he recorded an average of 14.2 points and 5.7 assists. On the Mavericks, he put up 14.0 points and 4.6 assists per game.
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving’s tenure with the Nets was marked by much controversy, but there was no doubt that he was one of the best point guards in the league during this time. Having joined the Nets during the 2019-20 season, Irving marked the beginning of Brooklyn’s “Big Three” era with him, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.
Although this resulted in very limited playoff success, Irving appeared to be at his best during his four seasons with the team. With the Nets, the nine-time All-Star recorded an average of 27.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.
Irving’s time in Brooklyn came to an abrupt end, as internal problems with the franchise took hold. By the 2023 deadline, Irving found himself paired with Luka Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks.
D’Angelo Russell
Russell, as mentioned earlier, is the newest addition to this list of Nets players to play for the Mavericks. Although the 29-year-old is yet to begin his career with the Mavericks, he has a solid resume suggesting he would be a good addition to their roster.
Russell made a name for himself during his first stint with the Nets. Having joined the team in the 2017-18 season as a 21-year-old, Russell took some time before establishing himself as a key player.
By the 2018-19 season, he was ready. Earning his first and only All-Star selection, the 22-year-old Russell led the Nets to the playoffs, the first of his career. He averaged 21.1 points and 7.0 assists that season.
The following season, he was traded to the Warriors, at a time when he was averaging some of the best numbers of his career. Unfortunately, this also marked the beginning of a steady decline in productivity.
After some time with the Wolves and his second stint with the Lakers, Russell returned to Brooklyn after being traded midway through the 2024-25 season. His second stint may not have been as good as his first, but he still put up a respectable average of 12.9 points and 5.6 assists in 29 games played.
For his career with the Nets, Russell recorded an average of 17.9 points and 6.2 assists per game.