As a father, Kyrie Irving knows it can be difficult to communicate with kids on their level.
But it helps when you have a universal language like basketball.
Irving was one of the hits for the Mavericks in Abu Dhabi as he and his teammates took part in the Jr. NBA Clinic on Friday at the NYU campus in Abu Dhabi. Players led kids through drills, skills challenges and a Q & A session.
Irving’s role in the program was, quite naturally, showing kids how to handle a basketball, something Irving does just about as well or better than anyone on earth.
Kids are kids.
They’re the same all over – energetic, wide-eyed and eager to learn from their heroes.
And it doesn’t matter if they’re learning to shoot jumpers from Grant Williams in south Dallas or how to do a crossover dribble from Irving in Abu Dhabi. They were willing learners.
Irving made it look easy. And then helped the kids make it look easy.
“It’s a rhythm, it’s like dancing,” the eight-time All-Star said during the camp.
Irving then rocked back and forth, flipped the ball between his legs a few times and before he knew it, the kids were doing the same.
Then came some Luka Dončić trick shots and lots of talking from Grant Williams, as always.
And on a day between games against Minnesota in the United Arab Emirates, it was another chance for the Mavericks to do some team building. When you have half a roster full of new players, getting to know one another on a personal level – and not just in practices or games – pays dividends down the road.
Second-year guard Jaden Hardy was part of the fun, which comes naturally for him.
“I’m always smiling, giggling, laughing,” Hardy said. “Usually everybody says they can hear my laugh. When I’m in the locker room, they’re like, yeah, that’s Jaden’s laugh.”
The Jr. NBA Clinic in Abu Dhabi was part of a preseason-long initiative by the league to grow interest in players and the league at the grass-roots level.
The trip was not just about the two games between the Mavericks and Timberwolves, although that’s what fans in Dallas and Minnesota were most interested in.
But the league also had eight youth basketball clinics at the NBA District, an interactive fan event at the Manarat Al Saadiyat. The clinics featured a range of basketball programing with youth participants from various basketball leagues in the Saudi Peninsula area. It also included numerous visits by NBA legends and league ambassadors.
Among the former players on board for the NBA Abu Dhabi Games and their associated events were Kenny Smith, Ronny Turiaf, Gary Payton, former Maverick Salah Mejri and Corliss Williamson.
The Mavericks also run a 10-week program in the summer for kids. The Mavs Academy features clinics for kids ages 6 to 18 and usually run for four days. A Mavericks’ player makes an appearance at every camp. For more information about upcoming camps, visit mavs.com.
Briefly: The Mavericks flew to Madrid after their 104-96 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. They will play the Real Madrid team that Luka played for and won a European championship with in 2018 before being drafted and joining the Mavericks . . . The Mavericks will return home on Thursday and will get some well-deserved down time after that 12-day trip before resuming practices for the preseason finale at American Airlines Center Oct. 20 against Detroit.
Twitter: @ESefko
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