Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban had some strong words about the ongoing comparisons between current Mavericks star Luka Doncic and Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki. Cuban, 66, recently appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast, “Club Shay Shay,” to address the differences between Doncic, 25, and Nowitzki, 46.
For those who don’t know, Sharpe, 56, is a sports commentator and former NFL tight end who played 14 seasons in the league. He played two stints with the Denver Broncos, one from 1990 to 1999 and the other from 2002 to 2003, and one stint with the Baltimore Ravens from 2000 to 2001. Cuban’s recent comments about the two Mavericks icons showcased their differences while seemingly ending the ongoing comparisons. Read on for all the details.
Mark Cuban’s Comments
In a recent interview with Shannon Sharpe, Mark Cuban addressed the differences between Luka Doncic and Dirk Nowitzki, both Dallas Mavericks icons in their respective ways. The Mavericks drafted both, but Doncic has been a Maverick since 2018 while Nowitzki played his entire NBA career in Dallas between 1998 and 2019.
Cuban told Sharpe on “Club Shay Shay,” “Remember, the league has changed … And Dirk — the skills he brought, and even more than his skills, his mindset — Dirk is mentally tougher than any human I’ve ever met in my life.” Cuban’s recent statement is true. The NBA changed over the years, and Doncic has been playing in a late 2010s era after Nowitzki retired in 2019 following play in the late 1990s, along with the 2000s and 2010s, eras.
Mark Cuban’s Middle Ground
On “Club Shay Shay,” Mark Cuban had something else to say about Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic, and the NBA. Cuban told Shannon Sharpe, “Whether it’s dealing with pain or the discipline off the court, that defines what you do … It doesn’t matter how talented you are. We’ve both seen talented guys flame out in a minute. Dirk had that mindset, stronger than maybe anybody, other than Michael Jordan.”
Cuban said talent doesn’t always lead to success in the NBA, as some talented players flamed out in a hot minute. Yet some talented players, such as Nowitzki and Jordan, had a self-motivated mindset whether dealing with injuries on the court or disciplinary actions off the court.
Cuban also commented on Doncic, who has a different style and abilities. Cuban told Sharpe, “Luka, on the other hand, in terms of actual skill and killer instinct — Luka can handle the ball. Dirk needed someone to get him the ball. That’s the only real difference.”
Cuban’s Thoughts
Mark Cuban’s thoughts on how the talented Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving duo took the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals were food for thought. Cuban previously appeared on “The Roommates Show” to open up about the chemistry between Doncic and Irving, 32, and how their collaboration fueled the Mavericks to a Finals run.
Cuban revealed on “The Roommates Show”, “It was like, okay, let’s take the summer and figure things out … By the time training camp rolled around, they had learned how to play together. [Head coach Jason Kidd] did a great job managing two high-level talents, and we were able to make it work.”
Mark Cuban’s revelation included the duo’s success being built during the offseason when NBA teams reflect on their needs and wants. Cuban also emphasized the duo’s influence leading to noticeable improvements among Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, PJ Washington, etc.
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