MAVERICKS ADD THREE TO TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed free agents Josh Akognon, Tu Holloway and DJ Mbenga to complete their training camp roster. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Akognon (5-11, 185) is a Petaluma, Calif., native who started his collegiate career at Washington StateUniversity before transferring to California State University, Fullerton. As a junior, he led the Titans to a Big West regular season title, Big West Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in 30 years. As a senior, Akognon was named Big West Conference Player of the Year after averaging 23.9 points per game.

Holloway (6-0, 190) played collegiately at Xavier University and went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft. In his four years as a Musketeer, he played in 134 games and held career averages of 13.7 points, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per contest. As a junior, Holloway was Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and earned Third Team All-America honors from the Associated Press while averaging 19.7 points and 5.4 assists a game.

Mbenga (7-0, 240) is native of Congo who was originally signed by Dallas as a rookie free agent on July 14, 2004 after playing with the Mavericks summer league squad. In his first stint with Dallas he saw action in 79 games averaging 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds. Mbenga was waived by Dallas on Oct. 30, 2007. Since his time inDallas, Mbenga has played for Golden State, L.A. Lakers and New Orleans. He holds career averages of 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 234 games (4 starts).

Below is the Mavericks’ training camp roster:

No.          Player                     Pos.        Ht.           Wt.          Birthdate                Prior to NBA/Home Country     NBA Exp

10            Josh Akognon          G             5-11         185          2/10/86                    California State, Fullerton         R

3              Rodrigue Beaubois G             6-2           182          2/24/88                    Cholet/Guadeloupe                 3

42            Elton Brand              F              6-9           255          3/11/79                    Duke/USA                               13

25            Vince Carter            G/F          6-6           220          1/26/77                    North Carolina/USA                 14

4              Darren Collison       G             6-0           160          8/23/87                    UCLA/USA                              3

9              Jae Crowder           F              6-6           235          7/6/90                      Marquette/USA                        R

1              Jared Cunningham  G             6-4           194          5/22/91                    Oregon State/USA                   R

52            Tu Holloway            G             6-0           190          8/21/89                    Xavier/USA                             R

5              Bernard James        F/C          6-10         240          2/7/85                      Florida State/USA                    R

30            Dahntay Jones        G/F          6-6           225          12/27/80                  Duke/USA                               9

20            Dominique Jones     G             6-5           215          10/15/88                  South Florida/USA                   2

35            Chris Kaman            C             7-0           265          4/28/82                    Central Michigan/USA             9

0              Shawn Marion         F              6-7           228          5/7/78                      UNLV/USA                              13

32            O.J. Mayo                G             6-4           210          11/5/87                    USC/USA                                4

28            DJ Mbenga              C             7-0           240          12/30/80                  Pallacanestro Varese/Congo   7

41            Dirk Nowitzki            F              7-0           245          6/19/78                    Würzburg/Germany                 14

13            Delonte West            G             6-3           180          7/26/83                    St. Joseph’s/USA                     8

34            Brandan Wright        F/C          6-10         210          10/5/87                    North Carolina/USA                 4

© 2012 Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Announce 2012-13 Season Schedule

DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks announced their 2012-13 season schedule today, which includes eight games on TNT, seven on ESPN, seven on NBATV, one on ABC and two on ESPN Radio. 

The Mavericks tipoff their 33rd season by traveling to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Opening Night, Oct. 30, where they will battle the newest Laker and former Maverick Steve Nash.  That game will be televised exclusively on TNT. Aside from the opener, TNT will also televise at Phoenix (Dec. 6), vs. Miami (Dec. 20), at Oklahoma City (Dec. 27), atGolden State (Jan. 31), at San Antonio (Mar. 14), vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Mar. 26) and at Los Angeles Lakers (Apr. 2).

The Mavericks’ seven ESPN telecasts include at Los Angeles Clippers (Dec. 5), at Boston (Dec. 12), at Los Angeles Clippers (Jan. 9), vs. Oklahoma City (Jan. 18), vs. San Antonio (Jan. 25), at Brooklyn (Mar. 1) and vs. Brooklyn (Mar. 20).

Dallas also has seven televised games on NBATV.  They are vs. Denver (Dec. 28), at Miami (Jan. 2), at Oklahoma City (Feb. 4), at Minnesota (Mar. 10), at Portland (Apr. 7), at New Orleans (Apr. 14) and vs. Memphis (Apr. 15).

Additionally, ESPN Radio broadcasts two Mavericks’ games this season: vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Feb. 24) and at Los Angeles Lakers (Apr. 2).

The remaining portion of the Mavericks’ local television schedule for games on Fox Sports Southwest, TXA 21 and HDNet will be released at a later date.  All games can be heard on ESPN 103.3 FM and on KFLC (1270 AM) in Spanish.

Mark Followill, former Mavericks guard Derek Harper and Jeff “Skin” Wade return for all the Mavericks telecasts.  Chuck Cooperstein and former Dallas guard Brad Davis call all the action on ESPN Radio 103.3 FM, while Victor Villalba is back as the play-by-play voice for the Spanish broadcasts on 1270 AM KFLC.

After beginning the season with the first two games on the road at Los Angeles (Oct. 30) and at Utah (Oct. 31), the Mavericks will play eight of their 14 games in November at home. The November home schedule is highlighted by a visit from the New York Knicks (Nov. 21) and Los Angeles Lakers (Nov. 24).

March will prove to be the Mavericks’ busiest month when they play a season-high 16 games. March will come in like a lion when the Mavericks are on the road for six of their first seven games, including the team’s first-ever trip to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to take on Deron Williams and the Nets, but will go out like a lamb with the Mavericks playing the final six games of the month within the friendly confines of American Airlines Center.  

The Mavericks have 16 back-to-backs this season with only one stretch of four games in five nights.  In total, 10 back-to-backs are on the road, three begin at home and conclude on the road and three are road-to-home. 

For information on full season, half and mini packages, call 214-747-MAVS for the best available seating and ticket plans in American Airlines Center.

© 2012 Dallas Mavericks