While living in the NBA's Disney World bubble this summer, Mavericks center Dwight Powell and assistant coach Jamahl Mosley often talked about the same topic.
Their conversations had nothing to do with basketball, but everything to do with an issue central to their lives:
Police brutality, and the daunting prospect of eliminating racial inequities.
Since the Mavericks' season ended in late August, their spotlight for discussing and protesting racial injustice has dimmed. But the Mavericks' nuanced pushes for progress have only gained momentum.
In the last several weeks, the Mavericks have worked with Dallas leaders to update policies that experts say can significantly decrease instances of police brutality.
As the NBA's offseason remains uncertain in length and structure, one aspect is clear: The Mavericks' activism has been a spark the team won't soon let dull.
"It doesn't matter what color their skin is or what god they pray to or how they live or who they love," Powell said. "Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to live a happy life, and that's why it's close and near and dear to my heart."
