Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban revisited the 2006 NBA Finals on the Run Your Race podcast, shifting the focus away from Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade. Cuban argued the loss was due to officiating, specifically pointing to referee Bennett Salvatore, rather than the Heat’s superstar performance.
Cuban said, via HoopsHype, “We should have won. Someone brought it up to me yesterday, yesterday. And they’re like, ‘Yeah, you think Dwyane Wade beat you?’ I’m like, ‘No, Bennett Salvatore beat us.’ For those who don’t know, he’s a ref. And I stand by that.”
The 2006 Finals ended with the Heat defeating the Mavericks 4-2. Wade averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game during the series, earning Finals MVP honors in just his third NBA season.
That series remains one of the most memorable in NBA history. The Mavericks entered the Finals with a 60-22 regular-season record under head coach Avery Johnson, but struggled to contain Wade’s scoring and the Heat’s fast-paced offense. Cuban’s remarks suggest that he believes critical calls shifted momentum in Miami’s favor.
Bennett Salvatore officiated multiple playoff games throughout his 27-year NBA career.
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