Mark Cuban just defended the NBA's most controversial strategy

The subject of tanking has become one of the hottest topics in the modern NBA. While the NBA is currently taking steps to eliminate tanking and make the sport competitive year-round, Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban believes the topic of tanking isn't a big enough concern for the NBA to focus all of its brainpower on and that the league should actually embrace tanking.

In a streak of tweets, Cuban responded to the NBA calling for a board of governors meeting to eliminate tanking by simply saying tanking isn't the big problem, fan engagement is. While both sides of the topic have great talking points, Cuban's comments have stuck out like a sore thumb for the small community that believes tanking is simply a scapegoat for a bigger problem that the NBA is trying to put a band-aid on; it's becoming too expensive to watch or attend basketball games for fans.

Mark Cuban thinks the NBA is wrong about tanking

Cuban is no stranger to making bold takes about the current status of the NBA or the Mavericks, but to many fans, the one-time majority owner in Dallas crossed the line. Cuban not only said the NBA should shift its focus away from the topic of tanking, but that it should actually embrace the teams that have taken a losing mindset to heart.

Creating an environment that is not only cost-effective but friendly to the everyday viewer and basketball fan is why Cuban believes the league should take a step back on its anti-tanking approach, and he may have a point. There's no doubt that the product may not be superior to other games happening that night, but creating a cost-effective environment for fans to watch some of their favorite young players play meaningful minutes is something the league is trying to stray away from.

It may be ironic that the Mavericks are currently in a tank-off with over half of the league, as Cuban is arguing against the NBA, but losing is a strategic route many teams embrace in the means of getting a higher draft pick. For the Mavericks, this is no different with their current approach this season, despite losing many games in heartbreaking fashion with a 19-36 record.

With the draft on the minds of every team not in playoff contention, multiple players have already raised Mavericks fans' eyebrows. There's no doubt that the Mavs are still in need of a guard, even with a healthy Kyrie Irving, but the only possible way Dallas can achieve its dream of pairing Cooper Flagg with a young co-star is by losing games on purpose.

Cuban's take on tanking may not be popular or even what the league wants to hear in rebuttal, but his comments do carry weight for most of the league's teams looking for a better future. Tanking and losing games may not be pretty, but it's effective for teams wanting to build a strong future and an even stronger fan base, which feeds right into why Cuban believes the league should embrace the act of losing rather than demonize it.