The Mavs and Whataburger teamed up for another season to encourage North Texas youth to rise to the challenge and read for 20 minutes every day.The 2025 program officially launched on January 15 for students grades K-12 to log their daily reading and earn prizes from the Mavs and Whataburger along the way.
As part of the Reading Challenge, the Mavericks have visited schools and libraries across the Metroplex, hosting Reading Timeouts with special guests like the Mavs ManiAACs, D-Town Crew, and mascots Champ and MavsMan.
Children at the Dallas Public Library’s Hampton-Illinois Branch had an extra surprise last Thursday when Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy was joined by in-arena host Chris Arnold in reading aloud two books.
“Reading is very important,” Hardy told the audience of kiddos. “Growing up, when I was a young kid like you all, my grandma and my mom used to have me read books a lot.
“One of the books that I used to read was called Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I used to read those a lot growing up, and they eventually made a movie out of it, and I got a chance to go see the movie, too, so that’s what really got me into books.”
Hardy added that lately, he’s most often reading playbooks but stressed the importance of reading to establish a strong foundation for the future.
Children at the event followed along as Hardy read the basketball-themed picture books, “Goodnight Basketball” by Michael Dahl and “Bouncy: The Basketball That Couldn’t Bounce” by Jim and Brenda Jones.
“It’s just so fun anytime we can have the players get face time with kids in the community doing something so normal like reading to them,” said Emily Honeycutt, corporate social responsibility and Mavs Foundation manager.
“They love it, and it’s so engaging for both parties. Even in a library where you’re supposed to be quiet, it’s electric— kids were jumping off the walls they were so excited. And Jaden is just such a fun personality. He was right there with them, making fun voices while he was reading the books.”
The Whataburger Reading Challenge continues through March 17. All participants who logged 20 minutes a day for a minimum of 40 days will receive the Whataburger Certificate of Completion, a free Whataburger Jr. from participating locations, and a Mavs swag bag, with the top 20 students also receiving tickets to a home game.
Learn more about the Mavs Reading Challenge at Mavs.com/Readingchallenge or visit a Dallas Public Library branch.
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