Following their latest game, the Dallas Mavericks dropped to a record of 31 wins and 42 losses, sealing their fate with a sub-50% winning percentage for the season—even if they win all their remaining games. For fans, this marks a significant turning point, as it’s the first time in 17 years that the Mavericks will finish below .500. Not since the 1999–2000 season have they endured such a setback, when a 22-year-old Dirk Nowitzki was just in his second year in the league.

Since then, Dirk blossomed into a global superstar, and the Mavericks became a postseason mainstay. Over the past decade and a half, they missed the playoffs only once—in 2013—but even then, they finished with an even 41-41 record. Today, not only does 50% seem out of reach, but even 40 wins feel like a long shot. The drop in form feels almost as surprising as a last-ball upset in a Bangladesh Cricket Match—unexpected and disappointing.

Before the season began, expectations were cautiously optimistic. With new additions like Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes, many analysts believed the Mavericks could once again compete for a playoff spot. However, things quickly unraveled. Nowitzki struggled with injuries from the start. Bogut never quite fit into the system and was eventually traded by Mark Cuban. Meanwhile, other veterans like J.J. Barea were in and out of the lineup due to nagging injuries, leading to an unstable rotation all season long.

There were glimmers of hope. At one point, the Mavericks had sunk to the bottom of the standings, but the team kept grinding and even flirted with playoff contention. That fighting spirit deserves applause, no doubt. But from a broader perspective, the writing is on the wall. With an aging core and limited young talent, this team no longer has the firepower to push deep into the postseason as it once did. The decline, in many ways, has been inevitable since their miraculous 2010–11 championship run.

In recent years, the Mavericks have opted for minor adjustments rather than major rebuilds, but such patchwork strategies have proven insufficient in halting the decline. Moving forward, finishing under .500 and missing the playoffs might become the new norm. It’s a sobering thought for fans, much like the disappointment after a rain-abandoned Bangladesh Cricket Match where momentum was just beginning to build.

Yet, through it all, hope remains a core part of the sport. Just as fans return to stadiums for every Bangladesh Cricket Match, loyal Mavs supporters will be back next season, holding out hope for a turnaround, no matter how long the odds.