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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

While many Mavericks fans would be clamoring for the opportunity to watch the Dallas team play, not Rainn Wilson. In a recent interview with Bobbi Althoff, he made his hatred for the team abundantly clear.

When former Mavs owner Mark Cuban asked Wilson if he would come to a game, The Office actor told him that he wouldn’t even watch the Mavs play if he paid him, let alone attend for free. “Honestly, I would love to, but I hate your team, and I wouldn’t come to a Dallas game if you paid me.” However, he swiftly added that he might reconsider if Cuban flew him out on his private jet and offered him $10,000.

While he did not elaborate on where this hate for the team stems from, it sure has been crystallizing for a long time. The first instance of this aversion can be traced back to when LeBron James-led Miami Heat outscored the Mavs 92-84 in Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals. This was when he tweeted, “I never ever ever thought I’d be rooting for the (gulp) Dallas Mavericks…” Whatever the reason behind the beef, this is not a good time to be a Mavericks hater.

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The Dallas Mavericks have regained their footing

After enduring a rough patch plagued by injuries, the Mavericks have bounced back, as evidenced by their current five-game winning streak. Ever since Kyrie Irving‘s return to the lineup after sustaining a right heel contusion, the team has won every game, four of them with double-digit leads.

Their bold trade deadline moves further cemented their commitment to making a deep run into the postseason after narrowly missing out on the play-in sport last year.

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Read More: Revealed: Why Did Kyle Kuzma Reject the Golden Opportunity to Play With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving?

The Mavericks currently rank seventh-worst in defensive rating in the league. Historically, only two teams with a bottom-15 defense have won the title, stacking the odds against Dallas. However, they addressed this issue at the trade deadline by strengthening their defense with the addition of two rim-protecting big men.

They traded Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a 2027 first-round pick for Charlotte Hornets power forward P.J. Washington and two second-round picks. They also sent Richaun Holmes and draft compensation to Washington for center Daniel Gafford.

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Now that both Irving and Luka Doncic are off the injury reports and the team has strengthened its defense, the Mavs faithful can hope to see more wins from Dallas. What are your thoughts on the Mavericks’ trade deadline acquisitions? Let us know in the comments!

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