Goodnight, sweet Dwight.
The Dallas Mavericks waived veteran forward/center Dwight Powell on Monday. The all-time glue guy ends his 12-year run with the team as by far the most tenured player on the roster in a move that signals the end of an era for the Mavericks under first-year team president Masai Ujiri.
“Dwight was the consummate professional throughout his 12 seasons with the Mavericks and embodies everything you want in someone representing your organization,” Ujiri said in a statement. “He’s a tireless worker, an incredible teammate and someone whose impact extends well beyond the basketball court and into the Dallas community. We are grateful for everything Dwight has contributed to this franchise. He will always be part of the Mavericks family, and Dallas will always be a home for him. We wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter.”
Powell averaged 6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 17.3 minutes per game in his 12 seasons with Dallas. Last season for the Mavericks, he scored 3.3 points, grabbed 4.1 rebounds and dished 1.1 assists in 14.3 minutes per game. He appeared in 63 games in 2025-26 and started 12.
He appeared in three of the Mavericks’ four preseason games in 2026, averaging 1.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 12.1 minutes.
Powell (6-10, 260) ranks fourth among Mavericks’ all-time leaders in career field goal percentage (.606), fifth in games played (763), sixth in offensive rebounds (1,187), sixth in total rebounds (3,251) and 10th in blocks (330). He was the third-longest-tenured player (with the same team) in the NBA when the team waived him, behind only Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
His presence in the locker room and his fashion sense will be sorely missed — as will his innate ability to absorb blows to the face under the basket while battling for rebounds.
The ever-present “Did Dwight Powell get hit in the face tonight” account on X The Everything App released its own statement following the team’s announcement. It reads:
It’s rare you find someone ceaselessly willing to put others first and [self] last. Someone who exceeds their expectations regardless of their crescendo. You just don’t find those fall into your arms often. We found ours 12 Decembers ago. And boy, did we have a memorable embrace. Dwight Powell — you and your face enriched countless MFFL’s lives long before this account began in 2022, and will continue to do so as the next chapter begins. I really enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you did too. Dwight Powell — may you have a very enjoyable morning, eat a nice dinner later, and peacefully fall asleep in under 3 minutes tonight. Dwight Powell – go continue to be great. We’re all so excited to watch.
Thank you, Dwight.
The Dwight’s Face Community
Teammate Kyrie Irving had this to say about Powell, according to the Dallas Morning News:
“He’ll really be missed. He gave a lot to the franchise. Just a consummate professional, good friend of mine, good friend of a bunch of us on the team, past and present. He represented a lot here in the city of Dallas, and he did a lot for us.”
And, for the record, Mavericks head coach Dusty May told DLLS that Powell joining the coaching staff “hasn’t been discussed at this point.”
After waiving Powell, the Mavericks are down to 17 players on the roster, including the two two-way players. With 15 full-time NBA roster members, the team now carries the maximum number of players it can carry into the start of the regular season.
We would urge Powell, however, to stay in shape this season. If injuries hamper this team half as much as they have in the previous two years, he may be receiving a mid-season call-up from the couch.
