Dallas Mavericks Head to Mexico City to Face Detroit Pistons

The Dallas Mavericks are finally hitting the road after five straight home games at American Airlines Center to play the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

But instead of the Motor City, they’ll be in Mexico City.

Saturday will mark the Mavericks’ eighth game in Mexico, where the NBA has played 33 games since 1992 — more than any country outside of the U.S. and Canada. Four years ago, Mexico City added a G League team, the Capitanes.

The NBA has seen tremendous growth, with an estimated 33 million fans in the country, said Raul Zarraga, vice president and managing director of NBA Mexico, which opened a Mexico City office in 2008. That’s an increase from an estimated 19.7 million fans in 2019, the last time the Mavericks played at Arena Ciudad de Mexico.

“For fans outside of the U.S., the opportunity for them to enjoy a live experience of an NBA game is very limited,” Zarraga recently told The Dallas Morning News. “This is part of our commitment to provide this live experience to fans all around the world.”

For the Mavericks, playing in the game before a sold-out crowd of 22,300 is a chance to build on the ties the franchise has established with the country and expand its Latino fan base. But for the NBA, it could be part of a long game. Commissioner Adam Silver has said he would love to add an expansion team in Mexico City, though he has acknowledged American cities such as Seattle and Las Vegas would come first.

Zarraga said the league doesn’t have an immediate or active plan for expansion but emphasized the enormous popularity of basketball in Mexico, next to soccer.

“It’s the second-most practiced sport,” Zarraga said. “The opportunity for us is natural.”

Mavericks in Mexico

Veteran center Dwight Powell, the longest tenured Maverick, is the only player left from the 2019-20 roster that last faced the Pistons in Mexico City and boasted three Spanish-speaking players — Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis and J.J. Barea.

Zarraga recalled Luka Doncic’s signature performance of 42 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the Mavericks’ 122-111 win over Detroit on Dec. 12, 2019. But just as phenomenal as he was on the court, Doncic made an impression among the local fans with his message before the game.

“One of the most successful posts that we’ve ever had on our social media channels is when Luka Doncic said some words in Spanish before the game tipped off,” Zarraga said. “It was incredible, the level of response, just with a quick ‘hello’ in Spanish to the Mexican fans. It seems like that part sparks interest toward the fans, especially the younger generation.”

The NBA executive said Mexico doesn’t necessarily have a favorite NBA team, but the country admires iconic franchises connected to the league’s history, including the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, while he also acknowledged the popularity of teams with a history of Latin American players, including the Texas Triangle of the Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.

One notable ambassador for the Mavericks and the Mexico City Game is Eduardo Najera, one of six players from Mexico to play in the NBA. Najera, who was a Maverick from 2001 to 2004 and in 2009-10, encouraged his home country to embrace the Mavericks in March when the franchise donated a basketball court in Monterrey.

“The Mavericks should be the team of Mexico,” Nájera said in a prepared statement. “This was my dream, when I was playing with the Mavericks, to do this type of event in Mexico. We want to continue the growth of basketball, specifically with the Dallas Mavericks throughout this country.”

Najera was a special guest at Friday’s court dedication at Deportivo Azcapotzalco, a collaboration between the Mavericks and the Pistons. Also attending the ribbon cutting were NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts and Mavericks players P.J. Washington, Max Christie and Moussa Cisse.

This year’s game

The Mavericks don’t have anyone on their roster with Mexican ties this season, but there are four international players on the team. Powell and two-way guard Ryan Nembhard hail from Ontario, Canada, while Dante Exum and Kyrie Irving were born in Australia.

The Mexico City Game will be nationally televised on Peacock and will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories, according to the league.

For the second consecutive year, the game will intentionally coincide with “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) celebrations locally, a multi-day Mexican holiday which honors deceased loved ones.

Powell had nine points and 10 rebounds the last time he played in Mexico City. He’s coming off a pivotal performance of 18 points and six rebounds in Wednesday’s win over the Indiana Pacers.

“I’ve played there before and it’s always a huge showout,” Powell said. “Extremely energetic crowd. They love the game there. I’m excited to compete for them.”

Since Saturday’s game is considered a home game for the Pistons, the Mavericks will not travel to Detroit this season. It’ll be a tall task for the Mavericks (2-3), who are shorthanded without Irving, Exum, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and possibly Anthony Davis, who suffered a lower leg injury in the first quarter of Wednesday’s win.

The Pistons (2-2) are headlined by Arlington native Cade Cunningham, along with a physical frontcourt in Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart. Duncanville native Ron Holland and Red Oak’s Marcus Sasser are also on the roster.

After the Mavericks’ win Wednesday, rookie Cooper Flagg said he’s never been to Mexico City but he’s looking forward to the opportunity to visit and to play the Pistons.

“I’ve been to Cancun one time for a vacation, but other than that, I’ve never been to Mexico,” Flagg said. “I’m excited. I’ve heard it’s really beautiful. Detroit’s a really good team, so it should be a competitive, high-level game.”

Conclusion

The Dallas Mavericks are set to face the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City, marking the team’s eighth game in the country. The game is a chance for the Mavericks to build on their ties with Mexico and expand their Latino fan base, while also providing a unique experience for fans in the country. With a sold-out crowd and national television coverage, the game is expected to be an exciting and competitive matchup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where will the Dallas Mavericks play the Detroit Pistons?

A: The Dallas Mavericks will play the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City.

Q: How many games have the Mavericks played in Mexico?

A: The Mavericks have played seven games in Mexico, and this will be their eighth game in the country.

Q: How many fans are expected to attend the game?

A: The game is expected to be played in front of a sold-out crowd of 22,300 fans.

Q: Will the game be televised nationally?

A: Yes, the game will be nationally televised on Peacock and will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories.

Q: What is the significance of the game coinciding with “Día de los Muertos” celebrations?

A: The game coinciding with “Día de los Muertos” celebrations is a way to honor the Mexican holiday and provide a unique experience for fans in the country.