Michael Finley took a short break from his duties as co-interim general manager of the Mavericks on Sunday to host his annual charity event at the iCompete Experience in Lewisville.
Several of Finley’s celebrity friends were scattered throughout the 30,000 square-foot virtual sports center as part of the “Fin & Friends iCompete Experience,” an interactive and team-based event designed to benefit The Michael Finley Foundation.
Dirk Nowitzki, Finley’s longtime friend and former teammate, quickly found the basketball court and tested his iconic jumpshot, which still looks as smooth as it did during his 21-year NBA career.
“If I’m in town, I always support him,” Nowitzki said. “He always supports my tennis classics. It’s good to be out here and have some fun.”
Mavericks
Fun was the theme of the night, as was raising funds for the foundation’s flagship program, G.I.F.T.4.S., an academic and life-skills accelerator program that provides students and their families with training and skills to achieve their goals. The event, a change in pace from the foundation’s annual poker tournament, also included live karaoke, bowling, darts and a live auction that included autographed sports memorabilia.
Finley said his foundation has raised around $150,000 annually over the last eight years, which allows him to give back to the Dallas community in a way he couldn’t have predicted growing up as a kid in Chicago.
“It’s a blessing,” Finley said. “I could never imagine growing up that I would have this opportunity to touch these kids’ lives, to touch these families’ lives the way that I’m doing,” he said. “Basketball and playing here in Dallas has given me a great platform to do that and I’m just trying to take full advantage of that.”
Toward the front of the complex was Mavericks veteran Dwight Powell, who stepped outside of his norm as a basketball player and participated in the simulation baseball activities. Mavericks forward Caleb Martin practiced his golf swing on the other side of the building. Mavericks assistant coach Popeye Jones, a two-time teammate of Finley in 1996 and the 2002-03 season, was also in attendance, trying his best in the axe throwing competition. Devin Harris and former Cowboys defensive end Charles Haley were also on hand.
It was Nowitzki, who drew the largest amount of attention, and he posed for pictures and signed autographs throughout the night. Finley is a regular at Nowitzki’s annual celebrity tennis classic, so it was appropriate to show up.
“He was a great supporter of mine early on,” Nowitzki said of Finley. “I was struggling and he was always there for me. He was my role model, him and Steve [Nash], when I first got here. That’s how I learned. Have a foundation. Support the community. … The sports world is a tight knit community. We help each other out at events and make them successful. It means the world.”
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