As the BIG3’s inaugural season rolls along, each new stop brings special memories to different players for different reasons. When Week 6 tips off Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, it will be a particularly meaningful moment for one BIG3 player in particular.
Power’s DeShawn Stevenson only played one season in Dallas, but he made his presence felt – helping the Mavericks close out the 2010-11 season with the franchise’s first and only NBA championship.
“DeShawn Stevenson is coming home,” said league co-founder Ice Cube. “I’m pretty sure he’s ready to show out right there in his old arena.”
Stevenson showed out for the Mavs in their title-clinching win over the Miami Heat in 2011, hitting three 3-pointers (that’s the same number of 3-pointers he’s hit this season for game-winning shots, by the way). He also made his mark in that series with some outstanding defense against LeBron James.
Cube said Stevenson might not be the only one on hand Sunday representing the Mavericks. Owner Mark Cuban and future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki were invited to attend, and Cube is hopeful they’ll be there.
“I know Mark is very proud of DeShawn Stevenson hitting all of those three game-winners and you know how Mark is a great owner who loves his players,” said BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz. “We do know he is excited for DeShawn, so whether he is in the arena or whether he is watching, we know that he is going to be rooting.”
Stevenson isn’t the only BIG3 player excited to be back in Dallas. Trilogy captain Kenyon Martin was raised in Dallas and still lives in the area. In addition to hosting some community events for Dallas-area kids this week, he expects to have many family and friends at the game.
“Going back home to play is going to be great,” said Martin. “I’m excited for my family and friends to see me play again.”
Another homecoming: Tri-State’s Lee Nailon played college ball at nearby TCU.
FS1 analyst Jim Jackson, who will be courtside to broadcast Sunday’s games, played the first five seasons of his NBA career with the Mavs after being drafted by Dallas in 1992. Jackson was recently named to a list of the greatest Mavs of all-time.
Here’s that list, courtesy of Sportster.com:
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Mark Aguirre
- Rolando Blackman
- Jason Terry
- Derek Harper
- Michael Finley
- Sam Perkins
- Steve Nash
- Jason Kidd
- Jay Vincent
- Jamal Mashburn
- Jerry Stackhouse
- Brad Davis
- Tyson Chandler
- Jim Jackson
And here’s a small list of NBA players who were born and/or raised in the Dallas area:
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Tony Battie
- Mookie Blaylock
- Chris Bosh
- Mike Dunleavy
- Grant Hill
- Larry Johnson
- Alton Lister
- Oliver Miller
- Kevin Ollie
- Greg Ostertag
- Ricky Pierce
- Dennis Rodman
- Spud Webb
