“It’s opened so many doors and created so many opportunities that I’m extremely blessed and thankful for,” Matthews says. Matthews says he plans to meet up with teammates in Los Angeles to do some training before the start of the season. But he is returning to a league undergoing some major changes. This summer, superstar Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors to form what many have called a superteam, and the league has been trending toward smaller play. Many say the changes have made the league less competitive than it has been in years past. But as an undrafted free agent out of college who had to ght to earn a spot on an NBA roster, Matthews says he doesn’t see it that way. “The league is changing and evolving, and just like life, you have to change and evolve with it,” Matthews says. “It’s always going to be competitive every year with at least thirty new guys coming into the league.” The Mavericks too will be a different team this year after signing high-pro le players Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut. But with future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki back for another season and Matthews’ Achilles feeling stronger every day, he says he’s ready to take the court and make his hometown proud once more. “I’m excited for the new season to get started,” Matthews says. “I think everybody's excited to prove people wrong.”
“ The league is changing and evolving, and just like life, you have to change and evolve with it. ” - Wes Matthews Court vision His basketball camp is motivated in part by Matthews’ desire to give back to the game that has given him so much. Watching his father play in the NBA as a child, Matthews says reaching the league was always the plan, but he still never expected all the things that come with it when he was just a kid trying to emulate Michael Jordan. “It’s just for the kids to get some basketball in and just try to continue to be in the community,” Matthews says. “It’s been a great turnout every single year and we’re always building on new things.” Matthews says one of his favorite things is to see kids walking around downtown Madison wearing t-shirts from his camps. And while his schedule is hectic with two-a-day training sessions and a summer basketball league, in the future he hopes to increase his presence in the community even further. “We’re preparing to start more charity work and bigger events in the years to come as far as trying to make it better, and I’m excited about our ventures that are coming up,” Matthews says.
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