Dallas celebrates a foundational star as Mark Aguirre's No. 24 takes its place in Mavericks history, honoring his scoring brilliance and early team impact.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks will honor one of their original stars next season when they retire Mark Aguirre’s No. 24 jersey during a special halftime ceremony on Jan. 29, 2026.
Aguirre will become just the fifth player in franchise history to receive the honor, joining Brad Davis (#15), Rolando Blackman (#22), Derek Harper (#12) and Dirk Nowitzki (#41) in the American Airlines Center rafters. The ceremony will celebrate the first No. 1 overall pick in Mavericks history, who helped establish the team’s early identity in the 1980s.
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont said the recognition reflects Aguirre’s lasting impact on the franchise and its 45-year history.
“As we look back on 45 years of this franchise, it is a great honor to recognize one of our legends,” Dumont said. “Mark’s legacy as a foundational player is defined by excellence, determination and commitment. We are proud to pay tribute to his profound impact on this organization by retiring his jersey and immortalizing his legacy as one of the Mavericks’ greats.”
Aguirre spent eight seasons in Dallas from 1981 to 1989 after being selected with the top pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. Over 566 games with the Mavericks, he averaged 24.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 49.2% from the field.
By the time of his trade to Detroit, Aguirre had cemented himself among the most prolific scorers in team history. He ranks third in franchise history in points (13,930), points per game (24.6), 30-point games (160), field goals made (5,441), free throws made (2,815) and offensive rebounds (1,259). He also stands fifth in career starts (527), seventh in total rebounds (3,244), 10th in steals (502) and seventh in total minutes played (19,154).
Aguirre’s dominance was evident early in his career. He still holds the Mavericks’ rookie record for points in a single game (42) and owns the franchise mark for field goals made in a season (925 in 1983-84) and in a single quarter (11). That same 1983-84 campaign saw him score 2,330 points — the second-highest total in team history — and record 22 career 40-point games, second-most by any Maverick. He remains one of only two players in franchise history to post back-to-back 40-point outings.
Fans attending the Jan. 29 celebration will receive exclusive memorabilia honoring Aguirre’s legacy, including a Hardwood Classic bobblehead, commemorative t-shirts and fan clappers.
Aguirre’s jersey retirement will mark another milestone moment in Mavericks history — a tribute to one of the players who helped turn Dallas from an expansion team into a contender and whose scoring brilliance defined the franchise’s earliest era.