One of the players at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter initiative this past summer inside the bubble in Orlando was Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell.

As the vice-president of the National Basketball Players Association, Powell was part of the committee who helped set up the infrastructure and lay the groundwork to make sure the bubble would be a complete success. To that end, no NBA players tested positive for the coronavirus while in Orlando, and that enabled the league to finish the re-boot of the season.

Also, some the players were able to meet with the owners, and some of the owners allowed the arena in their city to be used as a polling place to go vote during the presidential election. In this case, American Airlines Center became the largest voting location in Dallas County, thanks in large part to some of the work done by Powell.

“I think the things that we were able to accomplish in the bubble were great,” Powell said during Media Week on Wednesday. “I think across the board — players, staff, coaches — used our voices and used that platform to bring about some change, and also to start some serious conversations that we’re going to have to continue to work on going through this next season and the future for really the rest of our careers and our lives.

“It’s going to be a fight that I see continue and I think we’ve done a great job of kind of setting the stage and setting the example and then starting that fight.”

In terms of witnessing what goes on with the players during these difficult times when the cameras aren’t turned on, Powell acknowledged he was able to see things in a different light. Especially when so much from a health and financial standpoint were at stake.

“It’s definitely given me a massive appreciation for what goes on behind the scenes in terms of coordinating the opinions and the needs of 450 players,” Powell said. “To come together and have that kind of representative voice is very difficult.”

Among the people Powell worked closely with was guard Chris Paul – now with the Phoenix Suns. Paul is the highly-regarded president of the NBPA, and Powell saw firsthand the tedious work that comes with that prestigious job.

“Chris and the union have done an amazing job, especially through this weird time,” Powell said. “But then on the other side, the league kind of having to coordinate with those desires and those voices, and then building an environment where we can compete at the highest level, I was taken aback at first when I realized just how many people are involved and how much time it really takes to put together a season in general, but let alone in a bubble pandemic situation. And then now this kind of unique season we’re going to have this year.

“I was definitely very appreciative, I guess is the word I’ll use to describe my role in this league as a player because some of the things I didn’t realize had to go in that we’re all taking advantage of as players, now I see and it’s really quite fascinating.”

Because he underwent season-ending surgery on Jan. 28 to repair his torn right Achilles tendon, Powell wasn’t able to play when the Mavs entered the bubble. Still, he traveled to Orlando, where he was able to continue with his rehab while also continue being around his teammates and offering them advice and words of encouragement.

“The bubble really gave me a chance to be hyper-focused and hyper-diligent on the rehab,” Powell said. “I think, regardless of the circumstance, that was my plan going in. But just the nature of the structure of the bubble and every day how rigid our schedule was, I was really able to focus in and listen closely to my body and re-learn some of those movement patterns and re-learn how to kind of trust this new physical structure that’s in my body. Being able to gradually step into the different stages of the rehab with no noise was really helpful for me.

“And obviously having the team there every single day and being around them every single day, emotionally, was good for me because it felt like I was a part of and I was able to contribute at least in some way. Even though it may not have been in the box score, I was able to be around the guys, which really kept my spirits high and kept my motivation high to want to fight to get back as quick as possible.”

Getting back on the court quickly is always the ultimate goal for a player.

“Yeah, I’ve got a bunch of benchmarks throughout the time in the bubble,” Powell said. “From things as simple as the first time I dunked to the first time I ran backwards.”

More importantly, Powell is glad to know that his rehab is on schedule with no hiccups as the Mavs prepare to open training camp on Friday.

As far as the toughest part of his rehab, Powell didn’t mince words.

“When you’re in a boot for a prolonged period of time and you’re not walking for a prolonged period of time, there’s some small muscles like the little bones in your feet, they don’t die, but you haven’t used them for so long, so it takes a very long time to kind of get them comfortable again,” he said. “So that was probably the hardest part was just feeling like I could trust my foot.

“Surprisingly, there was actually no pain at all with the Achilles – knock on wood – from start to finish. But just getting use to your foot again and being able to move your toes again and be comfortable with your ankle and stuff like that, that was probably the most difficult part.”

Powell also made sure to not over-compensate for his injury by placing more weight or pressure on his left leg during the rehab stages of his right Achilles.

“I’m just trying to do everything I can to prepare my body top to bottom,” he said. “I’m obviously going through a rehab right now and I’m at the latter stages of it.

“There’s definitely an extra focus on not over-compensating, per se, on one side or the other. That’s one of the things I don’t think about until I get asked directly about it because I think it’s better to focus on the positive, focus on what you can do. It’s not something I’m worried about.”

Being unable to play late last season afforded Powell substantial time to watch and take in various aspects of his teammates’ game.

“I think the biggest thing I noticed watching and not playing is how much I miss playing,” Powell said. “I think it’s something you try your hardest not to, but you tend to take for granted that ability to just be out there with your guys and compete with your guys.

“But also things in all of our guys that I’m really looking forward to highlighting and taking advantage of this coming season in terms of helping them get in better positions to do what they do and take advantage of their skills. But just the little that I’ve been able to see so far, guys have been really working, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in there with the guys.”

Twitter: @DwainPrice

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