PLANO -– For Jason Terry, winning an NBA title was the ultimate as far as personal team achievements are concerned. But what could happen next would be sheer euphoria.
“The bow was winning the championship, but the icing on the cake will be putting that jersey up in the rafters,’’ Terry told the Star-Telegram on Monday. “If it happens, I’ll be grateful.’’
Terry was referring to the possibility of having his Dallas Maverick No. 31 jersey retired in the American Airlines Center rafters. By Terry’s estimation, he figures he made enough big shots, played enough major minutes, shed enough sweat, blood and tears, put up enough credible numbers, displayed enough leadership qualities and was such a fixture in the community to join Brad Davis and Rolando Blackman as the only Mavs players to have their jersey retired.
Terry, 34, also led the Mavs to the 2006 NBA Finals and helped them win the 2011 championship. In other words, he has built an impressive resume during his eight-year tenure with the Mavs.
“When you start talking about a jersey in the rafters and stuff like that, he took us to the Finals and was the first point guard to do it, and all those consecutive 50-game seasons,’’ Terry said. “And then finally winning the championship.
“The credentials are there. Now whether or not that happens, only God knows.’’
Terry signed a three-year, $15 million free agent contract with the Boston Celtics last month. But he wants everyone to know he was more than willing to re-sign with the Mavs, but the Mavs wanted to go in another direction.
Still, Terry is appreciative for his time with the Mavs.
“What we did in my eight-year career here in Dallas, I’ll never forget it,’’ Terry said during his youth basketball camp at the Plano Sports Authority. “I grew not only as a basketball player, but as a person, as a father.
“I grew as a human being, and that was all because of the community of Dallas and how they supported me.’’
Whether that support -- along with his contributions to the Mavs -- leads to Terry’s jersey one day hanging in the AAC rafters remains to be seen.
-- Dwain Price
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@dwainprice
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