The Dallas Mavericks have announced plans to retire the jersey of two-time NBA champion and three-time All-Star Mark Aguirre on January 29, 2026. For many Mavericks fans, this is a long overdue honor for the first major star of the franchise after being selected No. 1 overall in the 1981 NBA Draft.

Aguirre played eight seasons with the Mavericks, leading the team to five playoff appearances. This notably included a run to the Western Conference Finals in 1988, where they faced the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in a dramatic seven-game series.

However, Aguirre’s tenure with the Mavericks was marked by tension, including clashes with the coaching staff that ultimately resulted in his trade during the 1988-89 season to the Detroit Pistons, where he won two more championships. This trade had kept his No. 24 jersey out of the rafters for years.

Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban maintained strict policies regarding jersey retirements, emphasizing that players requesting trades would face a tough time in receiving such honors. In contrast, current owner Patrick Dumont has chosen a different path, allowing Aguirre’s legacy to be recognized despite the circumstances surrounding his departure.

The retirement of Aguirre’s number may also open avenues for honoring Luka Dončić, whose jersey number, 77, could hang in the Mavericks’ arena in the future. Despite never pushing for a trade, Dončić was unexpectedly moved to the Lakers, highlighting ongoing tensions within the franchise’s management. While both Aguirre and Dončić have received immense love from the Mavericks fans, their relationships with Mavericks management have had their complexities.

With Aguirre’s number being retired, the possibility grows for Dončić’s contributions to be equally honored by the Mavericks, although it may take new management before that reality unfolds.