In a Dallas Mavericks season that's been a wild ride for fans, the 2025 Mavs Ball would be a bright spot on the calendar. Nothing, it seemed, could rain on the parade of the Dallas Mavericks Foundation's annual black-tie gala that raises millions for good causes in the community.

And then it actually down-poured.

The event took place at the new Silo music venue in the Design District on Sunday, March 2 - the night of a brief but torrential late-winter thunderstorm. Serendipitously, the dress code for the 10th annual Mavs Ball had been "Tuxedos & TENnies," and those who wore sneakers with their ballgowns and tuxes left relatively unscathed as they navigated puddles that had accumulated on the blue carpet outside the venue while they were inside having fun.

At least it had been dry and pleasant for the arrival of 700 guests and VIPs - including Mavericks stars, former players, coaches, and staff - who posed for photos and gave interviews on the blue carpet during a cocktail reception under a glass-top tent. New faces at the event this year included players Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Max Christie, Kessler Edwards, Caleb Martin, and new Mavs CEO Rick Welts. Also in attendance were Mavs head coach Jason Kidd, legend Shawn Marion, and fan-favorites Kyrie Irving, Dwight Powell, PJ Washington, Derek Lively II, and more.

Patrons sipped champagne, bid on silent auction items (heavy on autographed Mavs memorabilia, of course), and got the first fun chances to contribute to the Mavericks Foundation’s mission to uplift women, children, and families in need. A "Sneaker Pull," for example, allowed guests to purchase a mystery pair of shoes from a collection of game-worn, autographed, and player-edition sneakers.

At the appointed time, the crowd filled the Silo "ballroom," which had been bathed in blue light and filled with elegant blue and white-hued floral arrangements and towering candelabras. The evening's emcees, local award-winning sportscasters Dana Larson and Mark Followill, oversaw a high-energy program that began with player introductions befitting of a stadium. (And to address the elephant in the room, no, there was no mention at all of any player who'd recently exited the team.)

Lucky patrons at the big sponsor tables, including Shiftkey, AT&T, Lexus, Kroger, and Chime, got the chance to sit with favorite players during dinner. While the room nibbled on a multicourse meal of spinach-strawberry salad, pan-seared Chilean sea bass and filet mignon, and homemade shortcake or layered chocolate cake for dessert, wine stewards carrying full bottles of Kendall-Jackson never let glasses run dry.

New Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont thanked Dallas for the warm welcome he and his family had received in town. Mavs Foundation president Katie Edwards, Rick Welts, and Shawn Marion led a toast to 10 years of Mavs Balls and underscored the foundation's mission to provide grants to deserving local nonprofits: Agape Clinic, Child Poverty Action Lab, Equest, First Responders Children's Foundation, Genesis Women's Shelter, Girls Inc. Tarrant County, Girlstart, Hope Cottage, HopeKids, It's a Sensory World!, Jubilee Park and Community Center, Mosaic Family Services, Texas Advocacy Project, Texas Native Health, Viola's House, Wipe Out Kids Cancer, and YMCA Metropolitan Dallas.

After dinner, a rousing game of "Heads or Tails" offered one lucky winner the chance for a suite experience at an upcoming Mavericks game. But when it came down to the final two contestants, Kyrie Irving and a woman named "Kyla," the Mavs star kindly forfeited to give her the win. After all, his place during games is on the court. (Except, sadly, the next night he would suffer a season-compromising ACL tear.)

The live auction, led by auctioneer Dean McCurry, saw heated competition for experiences that got folks up-close-and-personal with the Mavs, including a meet-and-greet with Anthony Davis and the chance to play "Legos with Lively" (Derek Lively II, who is a self-proclaimed "king of Legos"), or "Kicks with Kyrie" bespoke sneaker package. Forget those $3,000 starting bids; these items were going for $20,000, $50,000, even $100,000.

When the final numbers had been tallied, the total hit a record $2.14 million, breezing past the goal of $2 million announced earlier in the night.

To celebrate, the crowd filled the dance floor and danced the night away to the music of Emerald City Band.

Photo by Dallas Mavericks Photography

PJ Washington Jr. and Alisah Washington