Dallas Mavericks don female clothing during charity dodgeball game

The Dallas Mavericks assembled Saturday at FieldhouseUSA for a pre-training camp workout.

OK, only eight of the 15 Mavs who will make the upcoming season’s final roster were on hand for the festivities. And Rick Carlisle was in his customary seat as the team’s coach.

But it wasn’t exactly basketball that was being served up to the fans.

The Mavs were there to participate in the Celebrity Dodge Barrage, a dodgeball tournament hosted by point guard Deron Williams. With training camp set to start in a couple of weeks, this was sort of a bonding event for the Mavs, who lost Saturday in the championship game.

“It’s good when all your teammates that are in town come out and support you,’’ Williams said. “It’s a long day, so I appreciate it.’’

Carlisle and the players drew applause for dressing out in women’s garb during the game.

“He was a good team player and he wore the outfit,” Williams said. “I appreciate him coming out and supporting me.

“He’s always been a big supporter of stuff like this and the foundation. It just speaks about what type of person he is.’’

The event benefited Williams’ Point of Hope Foundation, which supports autism awareness, education and research.

Besides Williams, the other Mavs who played Saturday includes guards Wesley Matthews, Devin Harris and Seth Curry, and forwards Harrison Barnes, Dwight Powell, Justin Anderson and Quincy Acy.

“It was a good team bonding aspect and we got to see what guys are like,” said Barnes, who played the past four years for the Golden State Warriors.

Barnes signed a four-year, $94 million free-agent contract with the Mavs in July, and they’re expecting him to possibly blossom into becoming their No. 1 go-to guy.

“We’ve been in town working out, so I’ve been seeing him,” Williams said. “It’s good to get to know him, and I’m expecting big things out of him this year.”

Powell, who signed a four-year, $37 million free-agent contract in July, was glad to see so many of his teammates supporting Williams.

“This was just fun,” Powell said. “It was for the community and it’s for a good cause.”

This is the sixth time Williams has held a charity-fueled dodgeball event. He hosted the event three times when he played for the Utah Jazz and twice while playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

“This is my first time doing it in Dallas, and this is where I hope to keep it no matter what happens with my future next year,” Williams said. “We wanted to plant the seed so the fans can see how it is, and we can just grow it year after year.

“We had a good turnout and I was really good for the first one here.”

The Mavs open training camp on Sept. 27 and play their first preseason game against New Orleans on Oct. 1 in Bossier City, La. The regular season opener is Oct. 26 in Indiana, and the home opener is Oct. 28 against the Houston Rockets.

This story was originally published September 10, 2016 at 7:45 PM with the headline "Dallas Mavericks don female clothing during charity dodgeball game."