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Shark Tank's Mark Cuban reflected on the Dallas Mavericks' championship win in 2011 against the Miami Heat during the FLAGRANT podcast on October 2, 2024, describing the experience as both amazing and anticlimactic. He recalled the team's victory in Miami, where Dirk Nowitzki delivered an unforgettable performance.
Cuban praised Nowitzki as the best player ever, and podcast host Andrew Schulz reminisced about watching the game with co-host Akaash Singh at a friend's house. Akaash noted that Nowitzki had a slow start in game six, but rebounded strongly in the second half.
This prompted the Shark Tank judge Mark Cuban to share a lighthearted anecdote about his superstitious nature during the championship series. Cuban revealed that he would go through specific motions with his drink and its accompanying straw every time the Mavericks had the ball, believing that this ritual would bring the team good luck. This reveal left the podcast hosts in stitches.
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"I'm superstitious beyond belief. And so if you ever watched any highlights and they show me from that series, I'm sitting there like this. I've got a Diet Coke right here. And every time we have the ball, I have to take a sip of the Diet Coke and put it down and straighten out the straw, because if I don't, we won't make the hoop," revealed the Shark Tank judge.
Shark Tank's Mark Cuban relives the emotional moment of the Mavericks' Championship win
Mark Cuban vividly recalled the Dallas Mavericks' championship-clinching moment, when they took a 10-point lead with just 31 seconds remaining. Akaash Singh chimed in, referencing the iconic "leaning" shot that sealed the win.
As the reality of the victory set in, Cuban described being overwhelmed with emotion. Surrounded by players Brendan Haywood, Brian Grant, and DeShawn Stevenson, Cuban screamed at the top of his lungs, releasing the pent-up stress and uncertainty of the season. The moment was especially sweet for the Shark Tank investor given the team's loss in 2006.
"I'm just screaming at the top of my lungs, because the best part about it was the stress release, because the uncertainty whether or not you're gonna win, like, we had f**ked up in 2006, and you just don't know," stated Mark Cuban.
Podcast host Andrew Schulz jokingly teased Cuban about celebrating prematurely, but Cuban assured him that with a 10-point lead and only 30 seconds left, the game was essentially over. The lighthearted exchange ended with Schulz humorously revealing his allegiance to the New York Knicks, prompting further laughter from the group.
Mark Cuban believes Don Nelson's switch to the Golden State Warriors caused their loss in 2006
The co-host of the podcast and comedian, Akaash Singh, a self-proclaimed Mavericks fan, reminisced about the team's heartbreaking losses in 2006 and 2007. Akaash felt the latter season was particularly disappointing, as the Mavericks had a 67-15 record, only to be upset by the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs.
Mark Cuban attributed the team's downfall in 2007 to their opponent's familiarity with the Mavericks' strategy, courtesy of their former coach. However, Cuban's tone shifted when discussing the team's eventual championship win in 2011. He described the experience as more of a stress release than a euphoric celebration.
"Because the team we played was our former coach. So, he knew what to do," stated Mark Cuban.
For Akaash, the championship win was a lifelong highlight as a sports fan, having endured years of disappointment, including the team's struggles in the 1990s. Cuban shared Akaash's sentiment, expressing his happiness for players like Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki, who had come close to winning a championship multiple times.
The former Mavericks' owner and Shark Tank investor was particularly thrilled to see Kidd, then 38, and Nowitzki, 32, finally achieve their goal. As a testament to Nowitzki's legacy, the Mavericks erected a statue in his honor. Mark Cuban sold 72.3% of the team to the Adelson family for $3.5 billion in December 2023.
Mark Cuban can be seen currently on season 16 of Shark Tank.
