Slapped With “Raggedy A**” Insult, 43YO NBA Champion Was Confronted With Harsh Reality At Mark Cuban’s Franchise

When NBA players switch teams, adjustments are needed to be made in terms of various aspects. Whether it?s forming an alliance with players you once played against or adapting to a new style of gameplay, a few changes are the norm to be followed when diving into a new world. In a recent interview, a 2011 NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks recalled a hilarious story that occurred when he joined Mark Cuban’s franchise.

Aside from being funny, the moment turned out to be an eye-opening event for the player as well.

The 43-year-old former star recalls having to change his ways after Mark Cuban acquired him

Having spent nine years with the Washington Wizards, center Brendan Haywood was traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2009-2010 season. The 43-year-old recently appeared on Gilbert Arenas? podcast ?No Chill with Gilbert Arenas?. During the same, the former Mavericks player recalled a moment that occurred sometime after he had joined the Mavs.

Haywood recalled how Arenas wouldn?t pass the ball to him when the duo were together in Washington. Therefore, after joining his new team, if he grabbed an offensive rebound, then he would take the shot for himself. It didn?t matter how close or far he got it from the hoop.

?If I got it at the free throw line, I was going to take two, three, dribbles and shoot a crazy jump hook,? said Haywood. The same tactic, however, was not something that was going to fly with two different teams. Haywood revealed how, soon after making the shot for the first time, he was quickly pulled to the side by then-Mavs coach Rick Carlisle.

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“The next game was like ?Yo show me the play was like. You see that guy in the corner?? Just happened to be Dirk. He said, ?There?s 20,000. That?s 20,000 points right there,'” he recalled. The ?Dirk? being referred to by the coach was Mavs icon Dirk Nowitzki. Using him as Exhibit A, Rick Carlisle made it clear to Haywood what his job was with the team.

?Your job is to rebound and block shots. Don?t you ever look off Dirk to take your raggedy a** jump shot,? said Carlisle to Haywood back in that moment.

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The same season that Haywood joined the team would be the season that the Mavs would go on to defeat the Miami Heat in the Finals and claim their first NBA championship. The moment was particularly special since Haywood and Co. were able to get one over the Big Three of Miami: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

Haywood quickly learned how much discipline is stressed upon in order to come out on top. Despite spending only two years with the franchise owned by Mark Cuban, the lesson was something that he could carry on throughout his NBA Career.