The 2000–01 Dallas Mavericks season was the 21st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the offseason, the Mavericks acquired Christian Laettner from the Detroit Pistons and Howard Eisley from the Utah Jazz. In their final season at the Reunion Arena, the Mavericks played their best basketball in a long time, playing above .500 for the entire season. At midseason, they traded Laettner along with Hubert Davis to the Washington Wizards for Juwan Howard while signing free agent Vernon Maxwell. Along the way, Michael Finley was selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game. The Mavericks finished third in the Midwest Division with a 53–29 record, and made their first playoff appearance since the 1989–90 season. In the Western Conference Quarterfinals, they defeated the Utah Jazz in five games winning their first playoff series since 1988, but would lose in the semifinals to the San Antonio Spurs in five games. Following the season, Eisley was traded to the New York Knicks and Maxwell retired.

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks

Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Western Conference First Round (Dallas won 3-1)