MILWAUKEE – Many NBA players get to play in cities where they have some deep roots. That will certainly be the case for Dallas Mavericks guards Wesley Matthews and Devin Harris — as well as for rookie forward Kostas Antetokounmpo — when the Mavs face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at 1 p.m. at Fiserv Forum.
Matthews graduated from James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, WI, and also played his college at Marquette. Harris was born in Milwaukee, played high school ball at Wauwatosa East High School in Wauwatosa, WI, and also played college ball at Wisconsin.
And Antetokounmpo played high school ball at Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, WI, in suburban Milwaukee, and led them to a state championship during his senior season.
The Mavs spent Sunday afternoon practicing at Marquette, which is a gift Matthews doesn’t mind.
“It’s always fun to come back here,” Matthews said. “I look forward to it every year.
“I get back here in the offseason. This always feels like home, so I’m here often. The love of the crowd and the city and the state has always been tremendous.”
Matthews and some other Mavs personnel attended Sunday morning’s game at the brand new Fiserv Forum between Marquette and Providence.
“It’s a nice place,” Matthews said. “They did a great job with that — they’re really building up downtown and a lot of it is different.”
Harris, who attended college in Madison, WI — some 75 minutes away from Milwaukee – had his own unique take on the Marquette-Providence game.
“I didn’t make it over to the Marquette game today, for obvious reasons,” Harris bluntly said. “But I’m excited to see (the new arena).”
Harris also is excited to have some friends and members of his family attending Monday’s game.
“It’s always great to play in front of family and friends,” Harris said. “It’s always great to come home and see family.”
Coach Rick Carlisle is aware of the significance of players playing in their hometown.
“I know it’s always special to come here and practice at Marquette, which is where Wes went to school,” he said. “And Devin is from not too far down the road.
“(Assistant coach) Jamahl Mosley is also from the Milwaukee area, so it’s a homecoming for him as well. There’s a lot of scrambling for tickets here.”
In addition to being Mavs teammates, Harris and Matthews also share another common bond. In 2001 Harris was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball, and in 2005 Matthews was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball.
But Harris was quick to point out that his selection as Wisconsin Mr. Basketball was “unanimous.”
Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo was just called up by the Mavs for the first time this season from the Texas Legends of the G-League last Friday and will be on Carlisle’s active roster when they battle the Bucks. And the game takes on special meaning for Antetokounmpo because his brother, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is the leader of a Bucks team that has the best record in the entire NBA at 33-12.
“He’s really tickled to be here,” Carlisle said of Kostas Antetokounmpo. “It’ll be great seeing him in uniform.
“It’s a really, really nice (photography) moment probably before the game, and then, who knows? Maybe there will be a chance for them to match up during the game. We’ll see.”
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