Dragnsmke1

In the NBA, stars win championships. Role players just collect rings. In the 1980s it was Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leading the Lakers to titles while Kurt Rambis was just along for the ride. In the '90s Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen led the Bulls to six championships while Luc Longley made sure the public address announcer could announce a fifth name in the starting lineup.

For years the Dallas Mavericks were avid subscribers to a different theory, one that said that the more stars a team collects, the more likely it is to be able to focus that combined talent into a title. To that end, the Mark Cuban era, which began in Jan. 2000, has been marked by a revolving door of All-Star caliber talent: Juwan Howard, Christian Laettner, Antoine Walker, Michael Finley and Antawn Jamison all have donned Mavericks uniforms since Cuban's arrival.

Yet, Dallas frequently failed to meet expectations. Despite Cuban's best efforts, the Mavericks were little more than an entertaining offensive show with a propensity for making early exits in the playoffs, advancing only as far as the conference finals in '03.

But this season has seen the Mavs go retro. Under coach Avery Johnson and with the help of some key role players, the Mavericks have morphed into a stingy defensive unit with the numbers to back it up. Last season Dallas surrendered 100 points or more 34 times; this year, that number is a paltry 14.

One of the main reasons for the transformation has been the play of DeSagana Diop. Yes, we're talking about the same Diop who hit the free agent market last summer with about as much marketability as a snowsuit in the desert. Diop was an enigma, a high school phenom who never lived up to expectations in four unproductive seasons in Cleveland. His numbers were even less impressive: career averages of 1.6 points and 2.6 rebounds barely warrant an invitation to the D-League. Diop also developed a considerable weight problem while with the Cavaliers, making him an even riskier investment for any potential suitor.

But since 7-footers don't grow on trees, there was a market for the 22-year-old center. According to Diop, Seattle and New York showed significant interest before the Mavericks swooped in with a controversial 3-year, $6.5 million contract offer. A risk? Not according to Cuban.

"With 'Gana, we saw only upside, said Cuban. "There are always uncertainties, but we worked him out over the summer and saw that he was smart, and with the weight loss he had gotten much quicker."

Cuban's instincts were correct. Diop came to camp 35 pounds lighter and quickly established himself as the type of defensive presence Johnson had been looking for. On Jan. 14 Diop made his first start for the Mavericks, in place of Erick Dampier, and the numbers speak for themselves: Dallas is 19-1 with Diop in the starting lineup and opponents are averaging only 89.5 points per game, down from the 95.1 they put up with Diop on the bench.

"I'm just trying to go out there and do my job," says Diop. "Which is to play defense and rebound. We've got more than enough guys on this team who can score. We don't need me to do it."

But what about the star theory, the idea that championships are only won by those that put up the numbers? Has Dallas ever run a play for him?

"One," laughs Diop. "Just one. And I don't think I scored on it."

There you have it, a player who cannot win championships. But if the Mavericks continue their torrid pace, Diop will gladly collect the ring.

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