Mark Cuban Continues to Speak His Mind

Mark Cuban Continues to Speak His Mind

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is never afraid to say what is on his mind, especially when it comes to the NBA.  He is always jabbing at the referees, sparring with Phil Jackson or anyone else that opposes his views.  Yes, Cuban talks a lot but I respect the fact that he is not afraid to speak out and does not play that political BS.  He is always seeking out ways to make his Dallas franchise better and wants what is best for the NBA.  In his mind, they could take a look at what the NFL does better than the NBA, i.e. TV deals, and try and instill that same philosophy in the NBA.  In addition to the changes in the NBA, like all of us, Cuban wants a college football playoff system in place and he is potentially willing to fund it.  How could you not like this guy who is always willing to put his money where his mouth is?

Mark Cuban joined Dan Patrick to talk about the notion that the NBA should look at contraction and if there is a magic number for the amount of teams that need to be contracted, if he would want to be Commissioner of the NBA, and who is more of a draw in L.A., Blake Griffin or Kobe Bryant.

What the NFL does better than the NBA:

“Collect checks.  I think the fact that there TV deals are just one singular deal.  Every NBA team has got their own local television deal and with the NFL they are able to package them together and create more of an overall value to the TV package and that is better for all teams.  You have got some teams that are big market, teams that are small markets.  Combine them all together and you have got the best of both worlds.”

On the notion that the NBA should look at contraction and if there is a magic number for the amount of teams that need to be contracted:

“I would make arguments both ways.  The problem is not contraction.  If you have fewer teams then the concept is you have got better talent distributed to all teams, but you take out the best players from the two worst teams you are not going to change the NBA, and on top of that, those teams already have existing contracts so you still got to pay them so it is not like you have a big financial advantage.  I don’t know if we get there but I could make an argument both ways.”

If it was a bad sign when the NBA took over the Hornets:

“Not necessarily.  You are getting into those tenuous; I don’t want another one of those letters…  That all goes into the Collective Bargaining Agreement so that is kind of testy grounds.”

If he would want to be Commissioner of the NBA:

“No.  I don’t have the personality.  I don’t have the patience.  I am not a fan of compromise.  David does a really good job of dealing with all of the different personalities, being able to find compromise, being able to find a happy medium, and that is just not me…  I think he does a great job actually.  If someone like me came in and said something I would be like, ‘Are you an idiot?’  The commissioner can’t just say that.  ‘Oh what a great idea.  Let me consider it and take it under advisement.’”

Whether the NBA is marketing Blake Griffin the correct way:

“Yeah, because it is still early.  Actually he is kind of like an underground sensation and sometimes you don’t want to overmarket the guys who have some kind of underground swag to them and an underground appeal to them.  Everybody is going to Youtube and seeing him jump through the gym and seeing these amazing dunks and everybody feels like they discovered him.  If you go over the top and overmarket him and put him on TV, put him in a suit, put him into commercials then I think you kind of lose some of that.  Plus, I don’t really know Blake’s personality.  I don’t know what his perspective is.  When he played us last week, he has got that scowl on his face that just says ‘I want to rip your head off.’”

Who is more of a draw in L.A., Blake Griffin or Kobe Bryant:

“Right now the Lakers, just by default.  I would say Kobe still.  I would say Kobe because he has just got the legacy fanbase.  There is the newness of Blake but it is not like the Clippers are selling out every game.  If the Clippers are selling out every game win, lose or draw, then you would say Blake no question because immediately he brought people in and created all the ticket sales but you don’t see that yet.”