Mavericks owner Mark Cuban admitted he tried to lure Michael Jordan to play for him in Dallas when Jordan made his second NBA comeback in 2001.
Speak out “Moose and Maggie” from WFAN Wednesday, Cuba, who bought Mavericks in January 2000, said he “really” kicked off the idea of bringing MJ to Dallas when rumors began to be made that GOAT returned to the league in 2001.
“[Jordan’s agent] David Falk called out to me and said, “I want to meet you, you just bought a team and I represent all these great players, so we have to talk.” And I like, “Great.” [He says]”Oh, by the way, this is the day Michael Jordan will be in town, why don’t you come and we will all meet?” “Cuba, 61, remember.” I like, “Excellent, yes, of course,” I had never met MJ at the time. So I like, “Of course I will.” I left everything and I left and there was MJ in David Falk’s office with all the documents in front of him and I had read all the rumors and everything.
“I like it,” Don’t sign it. Do not sign it. Come to Mavs and we will be aggressive, I will do anything to win. “And he’s like,” Friend, A, I don’t really know you except B, I give my word. “And to his credit, he was trapped by his words and that’s when he signed with the Witch.”
Cuban later revealed how much he enjoyed watching the 10-part ESPN documentary series “The Last Dance,” because he had never seen Jordan’s side before.
After two average seasons for the Wizards, Jordan went on to become part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) in 2006. He bought controlling shares in 2010.
