Norm Sonju, the co-founder of the Dallas Mavericks, will be presented with the Jerry Colangelo Award on Feb. 15 during All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
The presentation will occur during the All-Star Weekend breakfast at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, and is presented by the Retired NBA Players Association. The award caught Sonju off-guard
“Out of the blue I get the phone call and I’m shocked they even know my name let alone wanting to give me an honor,” Sonju told Mavs.com. “It’s so awkward for me to tell people about it because I’m so much better at giving the award than receiving it.”
The Jerry Colangelo Award recognizes someone in NBA management who lives an exemplary life on and around the basketball court, in the home, and in the community, all while representing character, leadership and faith. Ironically, when All-Star Weekend was in Dallas in 2010, it was Sonju who presented this same award to the Mavs’ original owner, Don Carter.
“And it was my joy to do that,” Sonju said. “So when I got the call it’s almost like I didn’t believe that they really got it right.”
The president and general manager of the Mavs from 1980-’96, Sonju and his wife, Carole, continue to have close ties with the city of Dallas. They started a Christian-based school in West Dallas that’s still thriving today.
“Carole was tutoring kids for Pinkston High School and she would come home and cry because some of those nice kids could not read or write, so we felt we needed to start a Christian school,” Sonju said. “At that time it was known as one of the 15 toughest neighborhoods in Dallas.
“It was our joy to start the school from our dining room table. It’s unbelievable now that 83 percent of those kids go to college and succeed. They’re excelling and they’re doing wonderfully, and that neighborhood is (thriving).”
Carole Sonju led the school for seven years, and it now has almost 270 students.
“It’s just across the river in West Dallas,” Norm Sonju said, “Once you go in there you’ll just realize that those precious kids are getting opportunities that they never would have had before.
“That could be the most significant thing, even more than bringing the Mavericks to Dallas in 1980, because changing lives really makes a difference.”
As far as his award is concerned, it’s a surreal moment for Sonju.
“Remember it’s the Retired NBA Players Association, so those are the guys — many of them — from my era,” he said. “So there will be a lot of friends there. So it’ll be fun. We’ll have a great time.”
MAVS SCRAMBLING WITHOUT PORZINGIS: There’s a lot more to the Mavs missing Kristaps Porzingis than meets the eye.
Not only is Porzingis averaging 17.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. But things such as the alteration of shots – which Porzingis does a lot – is not an item that shows up on the stat sheet.
So what can the Mavs do to survive in Porzingis absence?
“We’ve got to do a lot more scrambling, there’s a lot more responsibility really on everybody.,” coach Rick Carlisle said “Not that we really funnel things to him on the inside, but he blocks a certain number of shots and he changes a lot. It just puts a lot more stress on your perimeter defense to really be able to contain because if guys are getting by, you’re not having the same type of development there.”
Counting Saturday’s 109-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Mavs are 3-4 since Porzingis was sidelined late last month with soreness in his right knee. Since then, it’s been a battle trying to stitch things together in the middle of the paint on a consistent basis.
“We have other guys that can block shots, but if you come over and try and miss, then you’re opening up people on the offensive boards,” Carlisle said. “So the point of attack is really key. Everybody’s got to guard their territory.
Incidentally, Carlisle reiterated Saturday what he said earlier this week when he acknowledged that Porzingis could possibly return for Tuesday’s game at Golden State or Wednesday’s game at Sacramento.
“But it’s day to day,” Carlisle said. “He’s continued to make progress.”
FROM THE HUNTER TO THE HUNTED: The Mavs have gone from the team hunting for the playoffs to a team that’s being hunted, because they appear to be a lock for a playoff spot.
It’s an interesting spot for the Mavs, who have missed the playoffs the last three years.
“It’s something that I have talked to the team about,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’re a team that has gotten a lot of attention because of the moves and because of what Luka (Doncic) did last year.
“But this year having (Kristaps Porzingis) playing on opening night, that’s all part of it.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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