The 8th annual Mavs Ball raises a record $1.85 million for the Mavs Foundation.

The Dallas Mavericks raised a record $1.85 million at the glitzy eighth annual Mavs Ball in Dallas on Friday night. Funds raised will remain here in North Texas to empower the children, women, and families that the Mavs Foundation serves each year.

“This night is huge,” said Dallas Mavs forward/center Dwight Powell, the longest-serving player on the team to attend all eight Mavs Ball nights. “The Mavs Foundation and everything we can do as Mavs players in the community is really the best part of the job.”

The stellar event was presented by ShiftKey, a Texas tech company that signed a multi-year partnership with the Mavs at the start of the season.

The event was held at the Omni Dallas Hotel under velvety blue disco lights that made everyone beam. Visitors were greeted by a giant pink sign that read, “Follow the call of the disco ball!”

The Mavs Ball featured the entire team, coaches, legends, team leaders and some of the franchise’s most dedicated fans. Almost 900 people attended this year’s event, and the entertainment was organized by the cult music group Kool & The Gang.

The annual Mavs Ball is the premier fundraising event for the Mavs Foundation, bringing together fans, partners and VIPs to celebrate the 2022-2023 grantees and Dallas Mavs charitable work throughout the season.

Friday night was a moment to celebrate the past and build strength for the future. The work in society is far from over.

“All the people who came here tonight are here for one purpose—to make an impact,” said Dallas Mavs CEO Sint Marshall, NAACP Image Award nominee. “We are here to make a difference in society and raise money. This is our biggest fundraiser for the Mavs Foundation and the people who are coming know it. They say, “I want to change something,” that’s why it’s so exciting.”

Dallas Mavs Governor Mark Cuban and Marshall welcomed the Mavs Ball participants and delivered opening remarks. They set out to raise record-breaking funds for the Mavs Foundation, and the mission was accomplished.

“It’s been a great year both on and off the court,” Cuban told the crowd. “We appreciate each of you and Mavs fans around the world. We appreciate you cheering us on during the games and making noise to carry us to the big games like last night. But just as important, we appreciate everything you have done for the Mavs Foundation. Today we have already raised a million dollars, and this is just the beginning. We’re here to break records.”

Mavs supporters and sponsors have certainly made this possible, surpassing the previous high of the $1.7 million raised last year.

Attending the Texas State Fair with Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell netted the organization $50,000.

New Maverick Kyrie Irving offered $25,000 for the prize. Irving’s bidding process was fun and lively.

“We’re going to eat and check out all the rides, all the attractions and classic features,” Powell said. “But we’re going to eat whatever they have to offer.”

Another top auction offer was a trip to Spain to see Luka Doncic’s former club Real Madrid face the Mavs on October 10, 2023 at the WiZink Center. Doncic explained on stage Friday night how the dream came true to face his former team on October 10, 2023 in Madrid.

A well-worn T-shirt autographed by Doncic also brought in an additional $35,500.

“Mavs Ball is great because it’s not tic-tac-toe. It’s about the community,” said Jason Kidd, Year 2 Head Coach. “The Mavericks are great at handling recoil. So this is just another event to show that they are first class.”

Kidd has been a great supporter of the Mavs Foundation ever since he was named head coach. Last year, his J-Kidd For The Win program raised $75,000 for the Mavs Foundation, and then the nonprofit makes grants to youth education programs.

The program has already raised $21,000 this year and continues to grow.

“It is very important to give money back to the community,” Kidd said, “and we can donate money when we can win games at home. The main thing is the opportunity to help others and give them the tools to succeed.”

JJ Barea said the Mavs players are leaving as versatile individuals because the organization is creating champions on and off the court.

“It’s so great to be here,” Barea said. “The Mavs Foundation has done so much for this community and I am so grateful for everything the Mavs Foundation has done for my community in Puerto Rico. This event is really important for us and the community here in Dallas.”

JaVale McGee said that preparing for today’s Mavs ball reminded him of his first ball in 2015-16. He said the event had come a long way.

“It’s like a full circle moment [for me] in many ways,” McGee said. “This is my second film, and now it is completely different. It’s great to be back. It’s important to me to give back to the game and the community, and I’m happy to be here. It’s a big deal and it’s nice to see your teammates in good suits and a little bit of dressing up.”

Legends past and present were in attendance, including NBA champions JJ Barea and Shawn Marion. Meanwhile, former players Darrell Armstrong, Rolando Blackman, Michael Finley, Courtney Lee, Deron Williams and Charlie Villanueva also attended the event.

New Dallas Mavericks players Justin Holiday and Markieff Morris were also in attendance, and they seemed excited to meet some of the Mavs’ most dedicated fans.

On the blue carpet, Irving was accompanied by his daughter Azuri. She stole the show all night long and the fans seemed excited to meet all the new players.

The all-star event included a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live and silent auctions, and entertainment. AT&T sponsored the entertainment events and Osadía Tequila sponsored an online auction.

The cascade of blues and disco balls really made everything sparkle as diners dined on steak and shrimp and sipped on their favorite drinks. All participants received gift bags with Polaroid cameras and film inside. On the blue carpet, the players told the media that it was critical to step away from the court and focus on community service.

“It’s always a pleasure to come to this event and celebrate all the hard work that’s been done,” said Reggie Bullock, recipient of the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Award. “Every night we have to play at a high level on the court, so it’s always great to step aside and chat with the fans.”

Powell was thrilled to walk the blue carpet with his teammates Maxi Kleber and Josh Green. This trio is one of the most productive athletes in all sports. Their work in Dallas was just extraordinary, and they are always ready to pay tribute to the game.

As usual, the players and coaches joked about who would be the best and worst dressed. Reggie Bullock, Frank Ntilikina and Powell were among the top dressers in the voting, but this year they all shone. They all win, and every player seemed to enthusiastically participate.

“Better dressed, I’ll go with Dwight Powell; it’s a safe choice,” Kidd said. “Or maybe even newcomer Jaden Hardy. I think Dwight Powell will win. However, by the looks of it, everyone looked great today.”

Davis Bertens and McGee said they looked the best.

“Looks like I’m winning right now,” McGee said, playfully analyzing his teammates standing nearby.

Ntilikina, who appeared in the 2017 issue of Vogue with international superstar model Gigi Hadid, seemed the most laid-back on the carpet. He joked that he didn’t give teammates advice on how to shine on the carpet and model, but was “ready to help anyone”.

Green and Ntilikina later took pictures with fans lining up to greet them. Christian Wood did the same, barely stopping to eat. Wood took out his phone to record various moments of the night, like a proud father at a football game. He enjoyed every moment.

Players, fans and supporters are excited to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Hardy has said that public relations is one of his biggest passions. The day after the Dallas Mavericks secured the rights to Hardy, he launched a mechanism to set up a basketball camp in North Texas. Last August, he hosted a free camp for over 100 boys and girls at Shelton High in North Dallas.

He smiled throughout the Mavs Ball on Friday night as he visited the sponsors at his table and seemed to enjoy the nighttime atmosphere. On the blue carpet, he explained that his passions are basketball and mentoring.

“The reason I wanted to organize my camp was because I wanted to give back to the community and to these kids,” Hardy said. “I went to basketball camps as a kid and I feel like I should do the same.”

Dallas Mavs Events Director Ashley Gambino and her staff put together an elegant Mavs Ball event similar to high-profile events like the Oscars and Grammys. The Mavs PR team and other staff have been working together in recent weeks to bring the event together.

Participants dined on a variety of snacks and sipped their favorite drink during the reception before eating a steak for dinner. The organizers said they are always looking for new ideas and ways to host an evening that will bring glory to the community and give fans a special night that no one will ever forget.

Fun was the name of the game.

“It’s great,” Morris said, admitting he didn’t know what to expect. “There are a lot of beautiful people here. Nice to see everyone dressed up. It will be a great night.”

Morris and assistant coach Darrell Armstrong said they took their suits at the last minute, “but they managed together,” Morris laughed.

Morris said: “Luca could have been best dressed just because he knew about [the Mavs Ball] for a long time.”

Team leaders shared that the night is critical as it raises funds and builds camaraderie between teammates. The players seemed as excited as the fans to come together and say thank you to North Texas.

“We just love getting together to honor the Mavs Foundation and work in the community,” Powell said. “We want to continue the legacy of the players and staff that came before us. It’s huge. And it’s also great to be able to interact with these sponsors because some of their missions and goals align perfectly with ours. So it’s great to connect with them and continue this mission.”

The Dallas Mavs are one of the most charitable teams in all sports. The team annually ranks first in the NBA in the number of games played.

The Mavs Foundation has also once again agreed to donate more than $1 million to the local community for the 2022-2023 season. Last August, the Mavs Foundation gave $150,000 in emergency funds to nonprofits supporting those affected by the dangerous heatwave and rising cost of living.

“What a wonderful night!” said Mavs Foundation President Cathy Edwards. “To bring in a record $1.85 million is such a gift from our sponsors and donors and all the people who made this event possible. Thank you to the staff who have been planning for months, Mark and Sint for their leadership and support, and to Coach Kidd and the players, past and present, who make Mavs Ball so special.”