Nick the Quick was one of the most fearless guards of his generation. A second-round pick out of Cincinnati in 1993, Van Exel walked into the Lakers rotation and immediately started launching from range with a level of confidence that made him a fan favorite and an All-Star in 1998.

Dallas got him in 2002, and the 2003 playoffs are the reason Mavs fans still bring him up. He came off the bench and went scorched-earth, averaging better than 20 points a game in the postseason, including a 30-point night in the Western Conference Finals against San Antonio and multiple games where he single-handedly kept Dallas alive.

He played thirteen NBA seasons for six teams and finished with more than 12,000 points and 5,000 assists, plus 1,528 three-pointers. He has coached in the NBA since retiring, including stints with Atlanta, Memphis, and Milwaukee.