The American Airlines Center crowd gave the final speaker and Sunday's night's honoree, Derek Harper, a standing ovation, leaving one piece of unfinished business.

During halftime of the Mavericks' Sunday night loss to another of his former teams, the Knicks, Harper joined Brad Davis and Rolando Blackman as the only players in the Dallas franchise's 38-year history to have their jerseys retired.

Blackman spoke of Harper's yearly growth as a player, his ability to manage personalities and his "focused scowl" game face.

Reception attendees also included Blackman, former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk, Harper's family members and about half-a-dozen of his childhood friends from West Palm Beach, Fla.

Carlisle's Mavericks would go on to lose yet another close game and reach the season's halfway point at 13-28, but that didn't change the fact that this Derek Harper's night.