MAVERICKS/SUNS CONNECTIONS:

* Suns point guard Steve Nash played for the Mavericks from 1998-2004

* Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd was traded from Dallas to Phoenix  on 12/26/96 and played for the Suns from 1996-2001

* Mavericks forward Shawn Marion was drafted by the Suns in 1999 and played in Phoenix from 1999-2008 while garnering Western Conference All-Star four times

* Jason Terry played his college ball at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz.

* Dallas athletic trainer Casey Smith was formerly the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Suns

* Mavericks forward Tim Thomas played for the Suns in 2006 and was on the Phoenix squad that fell to Dallas in the 2006 Western Conference Finals

* Suns guard Jason Richardson played with Mavericks center Erick Dampier in Golden State from 2001-2004 and with Mavericks guard Matt Carroll in Charlotte from 2007-2009