After more than two decades in the NBA ownership circle, Mark Cuban has seen the league evolve in more ways than one. But with the 2024 NBA Playoffs in full swing, the former Dallas Mavericks majority owner has taken notice of a different kind of shift — the return of hard-nosed physicality on the court — and he’s not exactly thrilled.
While many fans and analysts have welcomed the playoff intensity, which has featured near-nightly scuffles and heated confrontations, Cuban isn’t as convinced that it’s all good for the game.
Through the years, the NBA has transitioned into a more finesse-driven league, with less emphasis on the bruising style that once defined earlier eras. But this postseason has been a throwback, bringing back the edge, the contact, and the trash talk. And while it may entertain fans in the short term, Cuban sees potential issues down the line.
Reposting a comment from analyst Chris Broussard, who praised the physicality as “waaayyyy more entertaining” Cuban offered a word of caution:
“The problem is that everything in the NBA always goes to excess. Guys will use physicality as a replacement for skill. Teams will adapt their rosters accordingly. If this stays in place for next reg season, I could see every team having a 2-way whose greatest ability is to fight and intimidate.”
He added, “That said, wondering who will get into a fight next, which I believe is bad for the future of the NBA, will definitely draw more eyeballs.”
Here’s the thing. I guarantee you that no one at the top of the NBA made the decision that the games should be more physical.
It’s the officials managing the games their way. Nothing changed in the rule book or case book. Right now every team still in, is calling the NBA… https://t.co/0F9DqolrPB— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) April 28, 2025
Mark Cuban’s concern is rooted in the league’s history of overcorrection. If the physical style persists, it could tip the balance away from talent and skill, and that’s not the brand of basketball he envisions for the NBA’s future.
Mark Cuban’s Classic “Scuffle” Moment
Ironically, Mark Cuban once got in on the action himself, though it was all in good fun. Back in 2001, during an April Fools’ Day game against the New Orleans Hornets, Cuban staged a fake on-court argument with a referee during a timeout. The crowd erupted, thinking it was real.
“The crowd was the best. Everyone was freaking out,” Cuban recalled in a video he reposted on X.
The crowd was the best. Everyone was freaking out. https://t.co/MfelO3AUoH
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) April 1, 2025
With the NBA constantly evolving, there’s one thing fans hope never changes: Mark Cuban’s bold, unfiltered passion for the game.
For more sports content:
Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for your NBA and college basketball reading fix. You can reach out to Dan Agulto through email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
