Mark Cuban refuses to stop appeals against 2006 NBA Finals referees
Mark Cuban not giving up on his grievances for the 2006 NBA Finals The The minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks still insists that the championship was won from his team, pointing the finger at the officiating rather than Miami’s performance.
In a a recent phenomenon on the YouTube channel Run Your Race, Cuban made his own the position is crystal clear when discussing the controversial series.
“We should have won. Somebody told me that yesterday. And they’re like, ‘Yeah, you mean it Dwiane Wade beat you?’ I’m like, ‘No, Bennett Salvatore beat us.’ For those who don’t know, he is a ref. And I stand by it,” Cuban said via hoopshipe.
Cuban’s ire is centered on Game 5, the pivotal overtime showdown that changed the series. With 1.9 seconds left and Dallas leading 100-99, Salvatore drew a foul on Dirk Nowitzki from nearly half court, sending Wade to the line.
Wade made both free throws to give Miami a 101-100 victory. The call remains one of the most talked about in Finals history, with replays showing minimal game contact.
The game illustrated a broader issue that Cubans are still grappling with. Wade attempted 25 free throws in Game 5 alone, matching the entire Mavericks team. In a six-game streak, Wade got to the line 97 times as Dallas led 2-0 before falling.
Cuban’s outbursts during the series cost him $250,000 in NBA fines. But Wade has consistently defended the championship, which is significant Cuban to stop claiming that the final was fixed and pointing to Miami’s superb adjustments after falling behind early.
The Mavericks got their revenge five years later. Dallas beat Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the 2011 Finals, and Nowitzki put on a legendary performance to capture the franchise’s first championship and silence critics.
Yet even with that redemption, Cuban clearly hasn’t moved on from 2006. His latest comments prove the wounds remain fresh nearly two decades later, keeping one of the most controversial debates in basketball alive among fans.
2025-11-27 17:57:00
