Mark Cuban has been fined $50,000 for using his Twitter feed to ask fans how they would fix the NBA’s terrible officiating.
The tweet came after his Dallas Mavericks lost to the New Orleans Hornets in overtime. Speaking to reporters before the game, Mark Cuban said he thought bad officiating had played a part in the Mavericks loss to the Heat on Wednesday.
Mark Cuban’s fine was not formally announced by the NBA, but The Associated Press reported that it was confirmed by a league spokesperson.
Having faced many a fine by the NBA for his harsh words for league officials and for getting too close to the court at times — in 2006 he paid the league $250,000 for entering the court to complain about a call in the NBA finals — this time Mark Cuban seemed tame by comparison.
“I’m sorry NBA fans,” Cuban tweeted. “I’ve tried for 13 years to fix the officiating in this league and I have failed miserably. Any suggestions? I need help.”
Cuban maintains that refs had a ruling wrong in Wednesday’s contest with the Heat, adding that the league’s review system is worthless, ESPNDallas.com reported .
Mark Cuban has paid the NBA more than $1 million in fines over the course of his tenure as the Mavericks owner. He was fined $75,000 in February following a contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I haven’t said a whole lot about the officiating in a long, long time, but I haven’t seen it this bad in a long, long time.” Mark Cuban said in drawing the fine. “Guys miss calls; that’s part of the game. You’re not always going to have a great crew. Officials have got to learn that’s part of the game. But these were officials that have been part of the league for years, and it was just off-the-charts bad. And, if no one ever says anything, nothing ever happens.”