Several members of the Dallas Mavericks organization gathered in Uptown Dallas on Wednesday to show off some new features at a public basketball court at Griggs Park. The Mavs originally installed the court at the park in 2016.
Center Dwight Powell was one of the players who helped debut the court nine years ago - and he attended Wednesday's event. He says public basketball courts play an important role in the community.
"That's where some of my best friends - that to this day I still consider my best friends, and my brothers," Powell said. "It's where I learned to compete. It's where I learned to interact in public. I think it's a huge fundamental step as a human being to be out in the wild. And I think this is a safe place to do it with a sport that I love, and I think a lot of kids love and can learn to love."
The court includes a new SportCourt surface featuring Dallas Mavericks colors and a design of the Dallas skyline. It also has a new backboard and hoop.
"There is nothing we get to do that's as fun as what we got to do today, which is dedicate a brand new court in Uptown" said Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts. "Just think about the thousands of kids who will have the opportunity to come out and play. Dreams will be born here and memories will be made."
After the ribbon-cutting for the new court, there was a Mavs Academy basketball clinic for children from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas.
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