NBA Best Practices: The Dallas Mavericks Let You Email A Player?!

I love best practices.

But it's not often that I come across a practice so simple, yet so powerful that I almost can't type fast enough.... until today.

The Dallas Mavericks have long been innovators in being approachable as an organization. Owner Mark Cuban is a heavy blogger, and is very integrated into their experience online -- both via his blog (here) and via interactive games to "Beat up on Mark Cuban inside Facebook Battle Ball" (shown below).

It's that approachability that allows the Dallas brand to grow, and that makes fans nationwide feel more connected to the team. Well done.

But for all the tech innovation around the team, it's one of the most simple tactics that drew my attention. How do most people reach out to their family members or friends to wish them luck? By email.

And Dallas makes it possible to email a player.

Let that soak in...

Hit the Mavs home page and hover over "Interactive".

Now, Click on "Email a Player", which takes you here. The instructions (shown below) are simple: "Would you like to send your favorite Mavs player a message? If so, here's your chance. Just click here and send a note to one of the Mavs. We print out the email and put it in the player's mailbox.

Unfortunately, the "Here" to click on wasn't working for me, but the idea is magnificent.

But, now, how could this be better? First, I'd love to see this through an environmental lens. Rather than physically printing out each email, could the Mavs provide each player with a smartphone that pulls in email from their fans. (Filtered of course) That way the player gets support everywhere, home or road - across seasons and across good times + bad. It would also enable the player to be available for a chat from this device on occasion, through the season.

Then, what if the experience went deeper? What if the latest comments from fans pumped into the player's locker? The second he comes in to get ready, he has the ability to see that fans are with him. Feels like it could become a techy but uplifting system -- which fits the Mavs brand well.

This is all about delivering an experience that a fan can't do on their own -- I can make a sign for a player, I can cheer, but I can't contact them in a personal way that is bigger than me. This potential is astounding!

Come back tomorrow for another round of best practices from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy