Cuban 'More Than Upset' That Kidd Left For Knicks; Was 'Shocked' And 'Surprised'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Mark Cuban has a reputation of being one of the most outspoken -- if not the most outspoken -- owners in the NBA.
And the 54-year-old businessman went at it again on Tuesday.
His target this time? Ex-Maverick and current New York Knick Jason Kidd.
Cuban took to the airwaves to voice his displeasure about the 10-time NBA All-Star's decision to leave Dallas for the Big Apple.
"I was more than upset," Cuban told 103.3 FM in Dallas. "I thought he was coming (back). I was pissed. J-Kidd is a big boy -- he can do whatever he wants. But you don't change your mind like that. That was . . . yeah, I'm sure I'll get over it at some point. But as of now, I wouldn't put J-Kidd's number in the rafters."
Kidd's decision to spurn the Mavs and come to Madison Square Garden came as quite a shock. The former first-round pick began his career in Dallas and then rejoined the team from 2008-2012, where he won his first NBA Championship in 2011.
The 39-year-old point guard signed a three-year, $9 million deal with New York on July 5.
"It hurt my feelings, because I felt that we had developed a relationship, and I thought that he was committed to the organization," Cuban said. "It sure seemed that he was. I mean, J-Kidd was active in going out there and talking to Deron Williams the whole time. I guess it was more shocking and surprising than anything else."
The future Hall of Famer is a shell of his former self, though he is still an effective floor general. The six-foot-four, 210-pounder averaged 6.2 points, 5.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 28.7 minutes per game for the Mavericks last season.
