Dallas Mavericks: Shawn Marion talks about what makes Mark Cuban special

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was the recipient of some high praise dishes out by Shawn Marion on the Knuckleheads podcast.

Dallas Mavericks were a struggling franchise when Mark Cuban bought the team. They had been in the NBA for 19 years but made the playoffs just six times. He acquired the team in 2000. Their last postseason appearance was 1990, at that point.

Cuban partnered with Donnie Nelson and Don Nelson to turn the Mavericks around. The roster featured a young Dirk Nowitzki plus Steve Nash and Michael Finley. It was not long before the Mavs became an annual fixture in the playoffs. Dirk’s stellar run reached its peak with the 2011 championship.

Shawn Marion was a key member of that team. He started all 21 playoff games in 2011. The Matrix played well on both ends of the floor. His clutch performance in game five against the Oklahoma City Thunder propelled the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.

Marion, who recently appeared on the Knuckleheads podcast, talked about what makes Mark Cuban special as an owner.

"“There ain’t many owners like Cuban… He was a fan first and an owner second, though. He’s got this bond out there with guys. He loves being in the action. He loves being in the thin of things. You know. Right in the thick of things,” Marion said."

Hosts Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson joined in with praise for Cuban and how he takes care of his players.

Cuban is a key reason why Dirk Nowitzki played his entire career in Dallas. The Mavericks owner was always willing to take care of Dirk. He did not try to run him out of town. Cuban and the Mavs chased free agents every summer to try to build a team around Nowitzki that could win games.

The Dallas Mavericks are lucky to have Mark Cuban at the top. Hopefully, Luka Doncic and company can bring Dallas their second championship in the near future. Fans can bet it won’t be from lack of trying by Cuban.