Derek Harper's No. 12 Mavericks jersey will be raised to the rafters at halftime of tonight's game against the Knicks at American Airlines Center.
The ceremony almost certainly will induce laughs and and tears and jostle memories of Harper's 1983-1994 and 1996-97 tenures as a Maverick.
Longtime Mavericks fans no doubt recall Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, when Harper hung 35 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists on Magic Johnson and the Lakers at old Reunion Arena to help Dallas tie the series.
Other tales are far less known to the public, such as this one from Dick Motta, who coached the Mavericks from 1980 to 1987 and again from 1994 to 1996.