Michael Wilson, his uniform soaked from sweat after playing in teammate Mack Wilson Sr.'s charity basketball game on Saturday, was only one of nearly 20 Cardinals on hand in the gym at Tempe Corona del Sol High School.
Not everyone played in the game. But their presence was notable for a team that has worked to build chemistry.
"Mack," Wilson said, "is a good connector."
Wilson was admittedly happy when his black team toppled the gray team, 93-90, on a 3-pointer with three seconds left (Trey McBride had a corner 3 for the gray team but it bounced off the rim at the buzzer.) This was the fourth basketball game and community day he had held; this was this first time his team won.
But while there were celebrities and players from elsewhere – Terrell Owens, Matthew Judon, Christian Gonzalez among them – it was all the Cardinals that caught Wilson's attention.
"Honestly, I feel like the closest teams are the best teams," Wilson said. "I think of my three years at Alabama (in college), how close we were and how we were able to build that camaraderie. That was my mission when I got here last year, 'What can I do to bring this team closer, what can I do to be an asset to the locker room?'
"I think I've been doing a good job of that in any way I can. I am just appreciative of them supporting me. Me going into just my second year here, that means a lot."
Wilson only had defensive backs Rabbit Taylor-Demerson and Jaden Davis on his black team; the gray team featured Cardinals Wilson, McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., James Conner, Quez Watkins, Mo Eifler and Darren Hall.
The entire roster had been sent an invite. So that brought out plenty of others: Joey Blount, Aaron Brewer, Starling Thomas V, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Kei'Trel Clark, Darius Robinson, Elijah Higgins, BJ Ojulari, and Vi Jones.
(Former Cardinals Terrell Suggs and Jesse Luketa were also on hand.)
"We support everybody, we support the community," Ojulari said. "Mack is a great teammate. He'd show up for us, we show up for him."
The Cardinals are in the middle of the voluntary offseason program. Higgins said he just wanted to see the hoop skills of his teammates; Hall in particular had a nice game while Harrison threw down some dunks.
Wilson, meanwhile, raised money, got his win, and left a lot of fans happy. The event benefited Fostering Champions and Make A Difference Foundation.
"It's a lot of fun seeing all the fans, to see the kids smiling, to see kids wearing my shirt around," Wilson said. "It was an unbelievable event."
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. hosted his 4th Annual Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker BJ Ojulari (9) and Arizona Cardinals safety Joey Blount (32) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) and Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) and Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona del Sol High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Tempe, AZ.
