Mark Cuban Calls Lamar Odom Worst Move He’s Ever Made [Report]

Mark Cuban has been fined more than $2 million by the NBA for infractions that include saying he wouldn’t hire referee Ed Rush to manage a Dairy Queen. Cuban has a history of strong statements, but his reported comment about Lamar Odom is enough to pique the interest of Dallas Maverick fans and reality television watchers alike.

As Steve Nash announced his retirement, Cuban reflected on his time with the Mavericks to the Dallas Morning News. He said he regrets letting Nash go into free agency in 2004, but it wasn’t his worst decision when it came to the team. The worst decision was bringing on Lamar Odom.

#Mavs owner Mark Cuban said acquiring Lamar Odom in 2011 “was by far the worst” personnel move he’s ever made.

— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) March 23, 2015

Cuban and the Mavericks traded a first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Odom in 2012. NBC Sports writer Dan Feldman called Odom’s time with the team “disastrous.” Cuban and Odom had a confrontation in the locker room in 2012 that ultimately led to Odom’s ouster. Cuban told ESPN at the time that the exchange was the last straw.

“We tried to put him in a position to succeed. You guys saw it, saw what we did. It didn’t work… I just didn’t get a commitment. And that was the end.”

At the time, Lamar Odom was participating in the reality show empire of his wife, Khloe Kardashian. Kardashian followed him to Dallas and Odom’s time with the team formed a plotline of the show.

At the time of his departure from Dallas, Khloe expressed support for him, saying: “[y]ou deserve so much better. Know your worth and know your skills that have been proven and earned!” Kardashian would later file for divorce from Odom, but that divorce has yet to be finalized.

They gave Nash a loud ovation after the video was shown. Amar’e, who played with Nash, also clapped.

— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) March 23, 2015

As for whether signing Odom or letting go of Nash was the worse mistake for the Mavericks, Feldman has an opinion. He thinks the Mavericks suffered much more from the loss of Nash than the addition of Odom. Nash went on to be a two-time MVP with the Phoenix Suns. When Odom came on board for the Mavericks, the season “wasn’t going anywhere, anyway,” according to Feldman.

[Mark Cuban and Lamar Odom images courtesy of Getty]