

On Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks invited fans to join the entire 2018-2019 Dallas Mavericks team with hosts Mark Followill and Chuck Cooperstein for their annual tipoff luncheon on the main floor of the American Airlines Center to get a firsthand look into the upcoming season.

Also in attendance were Mark Cuban, head coach Rick Carlisle, the coaching staff, select members of the team’s front office personnel, and of course new Mavs’ CEO Cynthia ‘Cynt’ Marshall.

“The Mavs are about more than basketball,” Marshall told attendees. “The Mavs foundation allows us to give back to this great, great community that we call home. Our foundation has granted over $5 million to non-profits in our area.”

Proceeds from today’s luncheon will benefit the Mavs Foundation, and the children, women, and families it serves.

Over the past 22 years, the Mavs Foundation has built 40 safe Learn & Play spaces throughout the North Texas community, including 24 basketball courts and 16 Reading & Learning Centers. These spaces are designed to expand learning opportunities for reading and education programs, as well as provide Computer Labs and access to technology to assist teens and adults with job-skill training and other valuable tools.

Mark Cuban talks about trading for Luka Dončić on Draft Day at the Mavs Tip-off Luncheon pic.twitter.com/zAyUZMaPqN — MICHAEL LARK (@Michael_Lark) October 11, 2018

On the basketball side of things, Dirk Nowitzki confirmed he would miss the team’s regular season opener as he continues to recover from offseason ankle surgery.

“I’ve been called the $5 million mascot,” Nowitzki joked referring to his salary as remains sidelined.

Also on the injury front, Harrison Barnes provided attendees with an update on the hamstring injury that has kept him out of training camp and preseason, including the team’s trip to China for the NBA Global Games.

“The goal is to be ready by game one,” Barnes said as his status for the regular season opener remains in question.

Adding to their already lengthy injury report, were rookies Kostas Antetokounmpo and Ryan Broekhoff, who missed both the luncheon and the team’s morning practice while dealing with a stomach bug since returning from the team’s trip overseas.

New starting center DeAndre Jordan re-joined the team at practice and the luncheon after missing the trip to China due to a death in the family.

The Mavs will take on the Charlotte Hornets in their final preseason game on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at the American Airlines Center.

The regular season officially opens up for the Mavericks on October 17 in Phoenix with the team’s home opener October 20 against Jimmy Butler and the Minnestota Timberwolves.