“The good thing is that Mark doesn’t know anything about basketball.” Dirk Nowitzki, in his usual humor, said about Mark Cuban. But let’s remember, he was at the helm of the Dallas Mavericks as a majority owner for over two decades. Additionally, he won the 2011 Championship by defeating the Kobe-led Lakers. But more things about him go unnoticed, and a former player spilled the beans.

“Yeah, he really invests. Like, it’s not even so much about investing the money. He invests time. Like, he be there,” Dennis Smith Jr. said during his appearance on Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller’s podcast. DSJ appreciated Mark Cuban for his ability to connect with the players, “He present, you know what I mean? And whenever you’re there, he talk to you. That mean a lot.” Smith Jr. was part of the Mavericks franchise for two seasons. The Dallas team also selected him as the first-round pick in the 2017 draft.

At the time, many expected him to be a top-five pick. But because of the nature of the draft, he slid down to number 9. Coming from NC State, and being a point guard was a huge plus for the side. But it didn’t pan out as Mark Cuban or the coaches wanted it to be. That’s why the partnership ended early, as he was traded to the New York Knicks.

The 5-star recruit managed to impress a lot people during his early career. Even during the rookie year, the point guard left a positive impression on Mark Cuban. “He’s the fastest player in the NBA. Not even close,” Mark Cuban had once remarked. Even fans were confident that Smith Jr. had an explosive talent, which had no ceiling, just like his absurd vertical. And yet it was all unfulfilled potential, as he tried his hand in the G-League with the Wisconsin Herd. Yet he has no hard feelings with the Mavs or their former majority owner.

In fact, it was UD on his OGs podcast, who first credited Mark Cuban for the way he handles his business. He said, “Mark Cuban is one of those guys who, as ownership-wise, always paid attention to how he takes care of his players.” But who will be surprised to know that one player had a problem with the 66-year-old business mogul?

One of Mark Cuban’s ardent generals pointed out a flaw

For many years, he tried to bring in Shaquille O’Neal or Kobe Bryant to his organization. But that failed multiple times, due to a variety of reasons. So, in terms of efforts for the team, he did it all. However, off the court, he had a peculiar habit that Dirk Nowitzki noticed. The Mavs legend even let it out earlier this year.

“It’s actually Mark,” Nowitzki said. On Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s Thanalysis Show, Nowitzki called out his friend for being stingy, “What Mark sometimes told me, we get a check at dinner and he’s like, ‘Well, you might as well pay because it’s my money anyways, I’m paying you.'” The 2011 champion also admitted that Mark Cuban has hosted the team and paid a lot of bills along the way.

But there were days when he wasn’t feeling generous, especially around Dirk Nowitzki. Yet, that was a friendly banter, and when it came to taking care of the players, he was really there. That’s why even players like Udonis Haslem, who only played with the Miami Heat, had good things to say, along with the former Mavs player, DSJ.