That guy who’s always standing up in front of the Dallas Mavericks’ bench and barking out instructions and offering words of encouragement during the
team’s games is none other than. . .
Theo Pinson.
Yes, coach Jason Kidd gets in his share of time standing near the bench and signaling in plays to his team. But he’s gotten plenty of assistance from Pinson, a 6-5 guard who is in his first season with the Mavs and has become sort of a quasi cheerleader who goes to incredible lengths to support his teammates.
“It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life,” Pinson said. “I just enjoy the whole team having success. It’s something I’ve been preaching to every team I’ve been on.
“I think when everyone succeeds and we win, everyone gets rewarded. So I try to make sure everyone knows that I want you to do as well as I do.”
Anyone in the vicinity of the Mavs’ bench can’t help but notice Pinson and the enthusiasm he doles out on a nightly basis. And he dishes it out for 48 minutes – more, if the games go into overtime.
So where does all of that pinned up energy come from?
“It might come from the Red Bull I drink before the game,” Pinson said. “It’s all genuine.
“I care about my teammates and I want everybody to do well. That’s the type of guy I am.”
Although Pinson has only played in 16 games this season and averaged 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 7.5 minutes, when asked about the four-year veteran, Kidd said: “He’s our MVP. The spirit. He’s involved in the game, even though most nights he doesn’t play a minute on the floor.
“But he plays 48 minutes over there on the sidelines. He’s involved in the game, calling coverages, talking to his teammates and being a positive influence.”
And the players have taken notice.
‘I don’t know how much you guys see, but he’s the energy on our team,” forward Maxi Kleber said. “It’s 24/7, at practice, in the weight room. No matter where, he’s always cheering for everybody.”
Guard Jalen Brunson even refers to Pinson as sort of an assistant to Kidd, and a player who is always there to lend a helping hand.
“I would say he’s more than just a cheerleader,” Brunson said. “He’s that person that gives energy. It’s not just by cheering guys on.
“It’s also by telling us we messed up on the scouting report – what the scouting report is. He knows every single detail of what we’re supposed to do. He does that for us. It’s really special, and it goes way past just being a cheerleader. He’s helping us with X’s and O’s lessons.”
While Pinson appreciate all the flowers and admiration thrown his way, he also wants to make one thing perfectly clear.
“I can play, too,” Pinson said. “I can’t wait to prove that side, too. I can do both. Whenever my number is called and coach Kidd gives
me that chance I’m going to be ready. I know I will be.
“I put the work in, but at the same time I’m going to do what I have to do to help the team win every game.”
Pinson, indeed, has a pretty impressive basketball resume.
In the summer of 2011, Pinson was on the USA Basketball U16 team that won a gold medal. In addition, in 2014, Pinson was named a McDonald’s All-American during his senior season at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, N.C. That same year he also was named Mr. Basketball in North Carolina.
Also, Pinson was a member of the University of North Carolina team that captured the NCAA title during his junior season in 2017. Plus, he started all 37 games as a college senior while averaging 10.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
But after going undrafted out of college, Pinson spent the 2018-20 seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and with their G League team — the Long Island Nets. He also played 17 games for the New York Knicks during the 2020-21 season, and spent time last year with the G League Maine Celtics before the catching on with the Mavs on Dec. 20 when he signed the first of two 10-day contracts before inking a two-way contract on Jan. 10.
As far as Pinson’s penchant for stalking the sidelines and cheering on his teammates, even his parents have taken notice.
“My parents, sometimes they’re like, ‘Theo, calm down a little bit. You got to save some of your energy for the game,’ “ Pinson said. “But me personally, I get bored if I’m not up there being involved in the game.
“So, I try to do as much as I can. Also, I feel like if I’m up there talking and being into the game it shows the coaches that I’ll be ready when they put me in there, because I know what’s going on.”
Pinson knows what’s going on because the journey of playing for three different NBA teams and three different G League teams in less than five years has served as a life’s lessons for him. But pro basketball is the profession he chose, and he’s going to ride with it until he can’t ride it anymore.
Pinson said: “Even my dad, he’s like, ‘Dude, I don’t know how you do it. You just stay positive through every single thing.’ I went through this year and I was on a G League contract, and now I’m here with a good team, with a team that accepts me for being me.
“You can’t ask for anything better than that. It’s just been a blessing. I’ve been blessed my whole life with a great family and great teammates and a great coaching staff, so it’s been fun.”
And that’s important. While Pinson is serious about helping coach up the Mavs, he’s also having a bit of fun along the way.
When the Mavs were playing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Bally Sports Southwest on Feb. 2, Pinson wore a microphone during the game. During a timeout, he looked around American Airlines Center and wondered why a lot of folks were wearing Luka Doncic’s No. 77 jersey.
Asked about that, Pinson laughed and said: “All I saw was 77 all around the arena. I was like, can we get somebody else? Can we get a (number) 10, a (number) 13?’
“Now, we can get some (number) ones out there and see what we can do with that.”
Pinson, who wears No. 1, couldn’t help but laugh at his own comment.
The experience wearing the microphone during the game was one Pinson will never forget.
“It was cool,” he said. “It was one of those things like, I know they can’t use everything I say, because most of it is not nice to the other team.
“I didn’t even realize some of the stuff I said. I’m just out there talking and involved in the game, and it just happened.”
Cheering on the Mavs is reminiscent of the 1980’s when Boston forward M. L. Carr used to employ this tactic – while ferociously waving a towel – on the Celtics’ bench.
“You tend to see teams that have that environment, that type of player,” Kidd said. “We had that with (Brian) Cardinal (with the 2011 championship team) — someone who was involved, but knowing he may not play that night but was still in the game. And that’s important.
“A lot of time it’s overlooked, but as a teammate and as a coach, you really appreciate those guys. We appreciate what (Pinson) 
brings on a nightly basis.”
In 84 career games, Pinson has averaged 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 8.7 minutes. At age 26, he doesn’t play much, yet he still has an indelible impact on the game just by wearing his emotions on his sleeves.
“You’ve got guys in my draft class that are not even in the league anymore, and I’m still here just trying to make a niche for myself,” Pinson said. “I’m just enjoying every day.
“I think that’s the biggest thing that’s pushing me forward every single day.”
As the Mavs (35-24) prepare to start the post-All-Star game portion of their season Friday night in Utah, they’ll do so knowing Pinson will be there cheering them on, although he’s sidelined with a right fifth finger fracture.
“He’s always in a good mood, giving energy and positive feedback to everybody,” Kleber said. “So, he’s kind of like the motor for the team, even though he’s not playing.”
Pinson’s passion for the game has led him to think about life after basketball and something he may be tailor-made for.
“Everybody is telling me, ‘You need to be a coach,’ “ Pinson said. “So I guess I’ll try it out.
“We’ll see. You never know. I might go general manager, coach. Who knows?”
Until then, Pinson will just keep on bringing his version of joy and pleasure to the Mavs. Even when his teammates are having a bad night, he’ll always be there to console them and to lift them up.
“I think it’s just a trickle-down effect,” Pinson said. “You see one guy bring it, you kind of follow suit.
“You might not have it every night, but I know my role right now is just to make sure everybody has that energy and that pop and that pep.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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