Mark Cuban’s Phone Call With Adam Silver Revealed After NBA’s Petty Behavior Disrupts 24-Year Long Routine

Mark Cuban might still be the face most fans associate with the Dallas Mavericks, but he’s no longer the team’s majority owner. That change has come with a few conditions, though. Cuban continues to play a crucial role in the franchise, as both a minority owner and Head of Basketball Operations. If you’ve followed Cuban over the years, you’ve probably noticed his presence around the team now isn’t quite what it used to be. Remember when he was a fixture behind the Mavericks’ bench every game, whether at home or on the road? Those days are largely behind him.

For more than 24 years, ever since Mark Cuban purchased the Mavericks back in January 2000, he was a constant courtside presence at games. Whether at the American Airlines Center or on the road, you could usually spot him right behind the bench. But that’s changed—and Cuban has a pretty specific reason why.

So, what’s the deal? Cuban said on The Steam Room podcast, “The NBA got really, really, really petty, and won’t let me sit behind the bench anymore.” He explained that they didn’t have to give it to someone else. They weren’t even doing it because they were running out of space.

He even called Adam Silver to get it sorted out. “So I called Adam and Adam called so and so and so and so called Adam back and nobody wanted to give me an answer. And then they just said you know we’re sticking to it. And I was okay, you know. It is what it is.” Looks like there really are some things money cannot buy.

Cuban is not the only one unhappy with Silver, though. The NBA commissioner is on the wrong side of fans as well. A common gripe among NBA fans is the tendency of superstars to sit out random games, even when they’re capable of playing. It’s frustrating for fans who shell out money for tickets, only to show up and discover their favorite player is resting. But we also can’t ignore that player health should always come first. It’s a delicate balance, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is walking that fine line.

Is Adam Silver’s fine for the Atlanta Hawks justified?

Take Trae Young, for example. On November 12th, the Atlanta Hawks announced that Young was out for an NBA Cup game against the Boston Celtics due to tendinitis in his right Achilles. However, the timing raised some red flags. The Hawks had played just three days earlier and wouldn’t play again until November 15th. So, it didn’t seem like a necessary rest. It felt more like a strategic break.

The NBA got suspicious and launched an investigation. After consulting with an independent physician, the league determined that Young could have suited up. As a result, the NBA slapped the Hawks with a $100,000 fine for violating the player participation policy.

This move by the league might feel like a step in the right direction, but there’s a glaring inconsistency. Look at Joel Embiid—he’s missed a lot of games this season and hasn’t been punished. With this in mind, it’s hard to justify the fine the Hawks received. It’ll be interesting to see if the NBA digs deeper into how and why superstars take games off going forward. But anyway, doesn’t look like Silver is going to catch a break anytime soon.