DALLAS – With a slew of youngsters, high-profile veterans and a legend in the mix, enthusiasm was at an all-time high Thursday, as the Dallas Mavericks hosted the annual Tipoff Luncheon at the American Airlines Center. The event was hosted by Morgan Stanley and gives some of the team’s most loyal fans a chance to interact and hear from coaches, players and front office staff.
This year’s Dallas Mavericks Tipoff Luncheon raised over $100,000 for the Mavs Foundation and the money is used to help organizations right here at home.
This Friday (Oct. 19) the Mavs Foundation will unveil its newest basketball court at the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Worth. It will be the 25th basketball court the Mavs Foundation has built and dedicated.
Mavs CEO, Cynt Marshall, has seen firsthand the impact the players and coaches have on the North Texas community.
“They are true characters,” she said. “They have character, they have integrity and they care.”
Marshall said it’s impossible to adequately express the emotions and joy the children display each time they meet a player or coach at a Mavs Foundation event.
“They are living a dream. They’re looking at the players like ‘oh my goodness, that could be me one day.’ And what I love is they’re not just saying that could be as a basketball player. They’re saying that could be me out there helping people.”
Over the last 22 years, the Mavs Foundation has granted more than $5 million dollars to nonprofit organizations serving women, children and families in need and created Reading and Learning Centers and basketball courts across the North Texas community.
This year’s Dallas Mavericks Tipoff Luncheon was hosted by Emmy award-winning television play-by-play announcer, Mark Followill, who is entering his 13th season calling the plays for the Mavs on Fox Sports Southwest, along with Chuck Cooperstein, the radio play-by-play voice of the Mavs on ESPN 103.3 the last decade.
“The NBA is a fantastic play and the Mavericks are ready to take the place at the top,” Cooperstein told the crowd as he opened the Tipoff Luncheon. “It’s been an amazing summer starting with the draft and going through free agency. I think everyone is ready for a new season.”
One highlight of Thursday’s event was the introduction of new Mavericks’ center, DeAndre Jordan. He wasted no time addressing the crowd about his zeal to finally join the franchise and play in his home state.
“It feels great to be here and start a new chapter in my career,” Jordan said. “I wanted to be back in Texas and play for a great organization, a great coach and all these personalities the guys have here. I’ve always been a fan of this arena; no matter if the team is up or down, the fans cheer, or boo – until the final buzzard.”
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, entering his 21st season with the franchise, was the final player to walk the blue carpet at the Mavs Tipoff Luncheon and he later shared with the crowd how much he’s anticipating the season.
“The team has really been working hard,” he said. “We are ready to turn a new page. We have some really good young players and then DeAndre fits great with coach’s system. We are looking forward to a good season.”
The Mavericks open the 2018-19 campaign Wednesday night at the Phoenix Suns (9:30 p.m., ESPN/FSSW) before returning to Dallas for the home opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. FSN+/FSSW) Saturday night.
For more information on the Mavs Foundation, visit Mavs.com/Community.
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