During the 19th year of the event, the Dallas Mavericks welcomed 100 active-duty and veteran service members to a home game
DALLAS — On a night typically reserved for making buckets, the Dallas Mavericks made room for something bigger than basketball.
More than 100 active-duty service members and veterans — including 21 Purple Heart recipients — were recognized Friday night as part of the Mavericks’ annual Seats for Heroes event.
“It just really hits home how grateful we need to be,” said Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban.
The event, now in its 19th year, predates some of the players on the roster, like rookie phenom Cooper Flagg.
“A little thank you and recognition,” said Mavs head coach Jason Kidd. “This is what the Mavs have done for 19 years and many more years to come.”
The fun-filled day began long before tip-off.
The service members traveled to Dallas from San Antonio, where they are currently receiving medical treatment at Brooke Medical Center.
Courtesy of American Airlines, the group flew on a chartered flight to DFW Airport, where they were greeted by a water cannon salute and grateful supporters at the gate.
From there, the group gathered for an early dinner at Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse in Dallas as they shared stories and connected with fellow members of the U.S. armed forces.
“I came out of service really just focusing on my mental health and getting better,” said Army Maj. Brittney Gaines.
Army Staff Sgt. Wyatt Bockler echoed a similar sentiment, “I’m a brand new person. I can actually function. I don’t have to give myself timeouts.”
After dinner, the group rode a Mavericks bus to the American Airlines Center, where they took their seats in the front row.
“The hospitality — I’ve never actually experienced anything like this,” Bockler said. “
Retired Army Sgt. Robert Somers expressed, “This whole experience, sir, is just awesome.”
For many of the military guests, it was more than a game — but a reminder that their service has not gone unnoticed.
“Stuff like this, it really does show appreciation,” Bockler said. “I wish there were more organizations that did reach out and did stuff like this.”
Gaines added, “It shows the importance of community and just the fact that your veterans and your military members aren’t being left behind.”
For Somers, the appreciation is especially meaningful: “I’m an Iraqi veteran, so it feels like they forgot about us a long time ago. When these little things do come up, you just feel like a kid again.”
After the game, Mavericks players came back onto the court to sign autographs and take photos with the military guests.
“We don’t get to do this without what they do,” Cuban noted. “They put their lives on the line for us, so that we can just come and do things that we think are fun.”
The Mavs have now hosted Seats for Heroes 19 times — 17 of those games ended with a Dallas victory, including Friday night.
A win, in more ways than one.