Mark Cuban Says Knicks’ Penalty for Brunson Tampering Was Too Soft
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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban contends the New York Knicks should have faced harsher discipline for alleged tampering in their 2022 signing of guard Jalen Brunson, saying the one forfeited 2025 second-round draft pick was insufficient.
Speaking on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, Cuban was asked whether New York circumvented the salary cap while luring Brunson away from Dallas. “I don’t know,” he responded. “I just think there was a lot at play there.”
Pressed again, Cuban reiterated his dissatisfaction with the league’s ruling. “Was I happy that they only got dinged for a second-round pick? No, it should have been far worse, but it is what it is,” he said.
Documentary Payment Question Addressed
The conversation shifted when host Pablo Torre showed Cuban a clip of Bill Simmons suggesting Cuban may have used outside payments—specifically a documentary fee—to compensate Dirk Nowitzki beyond cap limits. Simmons had referred to the expenditure as “Iron Man money.”
Torre revealed he had researched the matter and learned Cuban’s company paid roughly $100,000 for U.S. distribution rights to the Nowitzki film over 10 years. Cuban confirmed the figure and flatly denied any 2014 salary-cap circumvention: “No,” he replied when asked directly.
During the episode, Cuban also restated his support for Los Angeles Clippers governor Steve Ballmer amid separate tampering scrutiny, calling himself “Team Ballmer” while debating Torre.
The Knicks signed Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract in July 2022 after hiring his father, Rick Brunson, as an assistant coach. The NBA investigated and docked New York a second-round pick in December 2022, citing early free-agency discussions.
Source: Basketball Insiders
