Mark Cuban recalls controversial 2006 NBA finals

Mark Cuban, present a number proprietor of the Dallas Mavericks, went backmost 19 years and spoke openly astir 1 of the astir arguable finals successful NBA past - the 2006 bid against the Miami Heat.

Dallas past led 2:0 successful the last series, but past mislaid the adjacent 4 games. Dwayne Wade won the Finals MVP trophy, due to the fact that successful the bid helium averaged 34.7 points, had 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per match. However, according to Cuban, the cardinal origin successful the opponent's triumph was not Wade, but referee Bennett Salvatore.

"We should person won. Someone mentioned that nonaccomplishment to maine yesterday and said, 'You deliberation Wade got you?' I said, 'No, Bennett Salvatore got us.' For those who don't know, that's the referee. And I basal by that," Cuban said connected the Run Your Race podcast.

Dallas achieved 60 wins and 22 losses successful the regular portion of the league that season, showing that they were not successful the finals by accident. They eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies, reigning champion San Antonio Spurs and MVP Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns successful the playoffs, earlier falling successful the finals to the Miami Heat.

Loss

Cuban admitted that the nonaccomplishment is inactive a coiled that doesn't halt burning: "Looking back, I deliberation we had a squad that could person won. We played great, but 1 referee's determination changed everything." These words corroborate however large the vexation was, and the contention inactive lives connected among Mavericks fans and the hoops community.

Many see the 2006 bid to beryllium 1 of the top examples of however azygous decisions successful decisive games tin signifier league history, and however nary statistic oregon idiosyncratic show tin ever alteration the result erstwhile extracurricular factors travel into play.

The Dallas Mavericks inactive retrieve that season, and Mark Cuban, adjacent aft astir 2 decades, does not springiness up his position: the cardinal infinitesimal of the finals was not Dwayne Wade, but the decisions of referee Bennett Salvatore.

It is to beryllium hoped that successful the NBA referees volition not play a large relation successful the future.