SAN ANTONIO — It was a holiday evening the Davis Middle School Girl's Basketball team will never forget.
The San Antonio Spurs in partnership with Ashley Furniture presented the Ashley’s Furniture "Hope to Dream" initiative Tuesday night at the Frost Bank Center where several athletes received a brand-new twin bed to be delivered to their home, a basketball gear starter kit that included new Nike sneakers, Spurs-themed clothes and had the chance to participate in a clinic on the Spurs court with Tre Jones, Julian Champagnie and Doug McDermott.
And if that was not enough to give the girls a wonderful evening, they also enjoyed a free dinner and a fireside chat with Candice Dupree, Spurs player development assistant and former WNBA star with the Spurs Coyote making a cameo to help deliver holiday cheer.
All this is part of Ashely's "Hope to Dream" initiative that has provided children in need with a twin mattress, bed frame, bedding, and pillow. These efforts have given over 140,000 160,000 beds to children in need, improving their sleeping conditions and leading to a higher quality of life. Every mattress purchased at a participating Ashley store helps to fund this initiative.
During the event, I caught up with McDermott to talk about the event, what it means, and his favorite Christmas Day memory which includes facing the Spurs' legendary "Big 3" of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.
Jeff: Why are these events so important to you and what was the vibe like today from the athletes?
Doug: The vibe was awesome today, having Trey and Julian here as well. We just love coming out and they support us. All these girls support us at games.
Whether they're at home watching TV or at the games in person, they come out and show us love so we want to do the same thing and try and help as much as we can. That's just the people we are. That's who the Spurs bring in. We like to give back.
Jeff: It is great to see the Spurs are so connected to the San Antonio community.
Doug: The [San Antonio] community means everything to us. We're the only show in town. Everyone loves the Spurs and we want to keep that going.
We want to always have a positive impact on the community and show that we're great role models for the kids of the community, and just couldn't say more good things about the Spurs, and how active they are in the community.
It says a lot about the people up top, all the way to the people at the bottom.
Jeff: Tonight's is also the "Her Time To Play" basketball initiative. It is geared towards young female athletes. Why is that important to you?
Doug: It's very important just to continue to grow the game. It doesn't matter if you're a girl or a boy, this is an awesome sport where everyone can come together and be one, and this is just a great night for us to come out and support these girls from Davis.
We know it's close by here from the arena and we know they're all huge Spurs fans, and we got a chance to do a Q-and-A with them, really get to know some of the girls and just have a fun night overall.
Jeff: Alright I have to ask, what is your favorite Christmas memory?
Doug: (laughs) There's a lot. It's playing here actually on Christmas Day!
When I was with the Bulls, it was pretty fun coming here to San Antonio, when Timmy D (Duncan), Manu, and Tony were all still here, so that makes me feel a little old but that was fun.
And just seeing Keldon [Johnson] as Santa Claus a few times, it's been pretty funny. I know there's definitely some more to come!