The Mavericks before tonight's game against the T'Wolves will receive their "diamond-heavy" championship rings, which were "designed in part by Jason Kidd and other players, with input from several other Mavericks staffers," according to Eddie Sefko of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The design was built "around the Mavericks’ horse-head logo on the top of the ring." On one side, the "M" logo has "15 diamonds," and on the other side, the NBA logo has "one diamond and a star representing the first championship for the Dallas franchise." Around the outer border of the main logo, there are "31 Princess-cut diamonds, representing the 31 years the franchise had been in existence before it finally won a championship" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/25). ESPN DALLAS' Jeff Caplan notes the crowd at Monday's home game against the Suns got "brief glimpses of the ring in a video showing the making of the diamond-encrusted beauties." Not even the players "have seen the finished product." The design is "similar to the one chosen by the 2009-10 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks." One side of the ring will "include the player's name engraved above the team logo with the player's jersey number." Mavericks G Jason Terry said that he also "believes the team's postseason motto, 'The Time is Now,' is engraved on the ring" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 1/25). Cuban said that he spent $1.4-$1.5M on the rings, which "will be awarded to players, coaches, support staff and front office personnel." In Ft. Worth, Dwain Price reports more than 140 "full-time employees will receive rings, with players and coaches getting the more expensive version." Terry "plans to purchase a ring similar to the one the players receive and raffle it off through his foundation to some lucky fan for $10 per raffle ticket" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/25).
