Mark Cuban became the most recognizable owner in the NBA after buying the Dallas Mavericks in 2000. Cuban, now 67, passed New York Knicks Owner James Dolan and Los Angeles Lakers Owner Jerry Buss, who both led larger markets and bigger superstars.
Cuban’s outgoing personality and in-your-face marketing of the Mavericks quickly took hold. Between Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic, he always had a superstar on the Mavericks’ roster until he sold the team in 2024. The former “Shark Tank” star has watched Nowitzki’s fame diminish outside of Dallas — and now a Knicks star’s stardom on the outskirts of New York City.
Mark Cuban Praises New York Knicks Star
Despite never winning an NBA ring, Patrick Ewing is the best player to ever suit up for the New York Knicks in Cuban’s eyes. Ewing, now 63, averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in 15 seasons with the Knicks. Ewing is the Knicks’ all-time leading scorer.
Cuban told Rich Kleinman of the Boardroom podcast, “Kids, unless you’re in a highlight film or unless you’re on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube videos, you’re not truly appreciated any longer … That’s just not Dirk. That’s, you know, Patrick Ewing, guys we all really, truly loved and appreciated as players. It’s just harder for players to really sustain that after they’re done with their careers.”
Ewing was dominant but didn’t usher in a new style of professional basketball like Stephen Curry or even Nowitzki did. Ewing’s lack of Knicks success held him back from “greatest centers of all time” discussions, although he wasn’t the only player who was forgotten. David Robinson, Ray Allen, and Isiah Thomas are also discussed less frequently over time.
Mark Cuban’s Thoughts On Social Media
Social media helps popularize the NBA as a whole. However, Cuban believes social media hurts some players’ legacies, including Ewing’s. Some stars, such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson, still appear in highlights years and decades after their careers ended, but guards are more highlight-friendly than centers, as compilations of offensive rebounds aren’t as attractive.
Cuban also believes that Ewing has fallen victim to emulation. The great centers want to be compared to legends, like Shaquille O’Neal or Bill Russell, who helped shape how the game is played. Ewing is an elite player, but he didn’t change the NBA.
Cuban said, “Unless the young players are emulating you, you don’t have as much reverence, because they’re not watching you in videos all day, every day.”
Final Thoughts
Cuban’s thoughts on social media aren’t all negative. He is one of Kyrie Irving’s biggest fans, so the increase in short-form videos has helped some of his favorite players, just like it has hurt some of them.
Ewing and Nowitzki aren’t subjects of viral videos, trends, etc., but Irving, Doncic, and Cooper Flagg all are relevant online and in pop culture. Furthermore, Cuban’s former team — the Mavericks — reportedly remains his favorite. We’ll see if the Mavericks’ comeback succeeds in the 2025-26 season.
