This is literally a story that I've written 5 times in the last 5 years. I feel like I've literally written this paragraph 5 times:

"To contend for a title, you need a true MVP-caliber player. Unlike some assumptions that have echoed through gymnasiums for eternity, this one jibes with the evidence. Since 1986, every title but one (Go 2004 Pistons!) has gone to a team with one or more of these 11 players: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant or Dirk Nowitzki."

But Henry Abbott is better than me, and a lot more famous. Just something to think about, when you think about the Mavs "rebuilding".