[1] With the hopes of repeating history, the Mavericks brought back original head coach Dick Motta to restore a team that had compiled an awful 24–140 record over the last two years.
[2][3] The Mavericks had the second overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected Jason Kidd from the University of California.
[9][10][11] With the new trio of Kidd, second-year star Jamal Mashburn and Jim Jackson, the Mavericks had a formidable young foundation,[12][13] winning seven of their first eleven games.
[14] At mid-season, the team signed free agent George McCloud,[15][16][17] and acquired Scott Brooks from the Houston Rockets.
[19] Kidd averaged 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game, as he shared Rookie of the Year honors with Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.