The Dallas Mavericks held a dedication ceremony on March 28 for a renovated gym that the franchise provided to For Oak Cliff, a non-profit organization that serves the South Oak Cliff community.
The facility was built through a collaboration between Chime, Coca-Cola, and the NBA in honor of the NBA’s 75th anniversary.
“I am so excited about what we are doing today,” said Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall. “This is more than just a court. This is the NBA celebrating 75 years of making a difference in people’s lives.”
The renovated gym is located at the For Oak Cliff Community Campus, where the former Moorland YMCA was situated. Updates to the gym include a new basketball court with improved goals and repainted walls.
Dallas Mavericks players Jalen Brunson and Tim Hardaway Jr. were present at the christening as ambassadors for the team. They helped kids try out the new court with a mini basketball camp.
“It’s bigger than basketball, and that’s what the Mavs organization has been about since I’ve been here,” Brunson said.
“It’s a blessing. It’s a great opportunity,” Hardaway said. “This building, this court is for you all. For you to stay out of trouble. Stay in school, have a great fun time with your friends and your loved ones.”
“You are watching our mission live out in real-time,” said Taylor Toynes, co-founder of For Oak Cliff.
“Everything that is happening here will be the foundation of this city,” Toynes added. “We are the people who grew up in this community and now have power and leverage to create a culture-relevant space for these young people who come after us.”
This summer, the gym’s walls will also boast a mural painted by local Dallas artist Jeremy Biggers.
This is not the first time the Dallas Mavericks dedicated a new resource to For Oak Cliff. In February, the Mavericks and the Mavs Foundation unveiled the largest computer room in franchise history at the For Oak Cliff Community Campus.
After the gym’s dedication ceremony, a community festival took place. A food truck, music, and fellowship brought laughter and joy to all the people present from the Oak Cliff community.
“Our community is so tight right now; it’s unbelievable,” Toynes said. “It’s amazing, and it’s family, and that’s how you move the mission forward. And today, we are celebrating my first love, which is basketball. I won my very first trophy in this gym.”
