Marc CubanTHE minority owner of the Dallas Mavericksrecently revisited the controversial 2006 NBA Finals between his team and the Miami Heat on “The Roommates Show” podcast. Cuban’s main criticism focused on the officiating, particularly how he favored Miami Dwyane Wadewho he said received a disproportionate number of free throws. Cuban believes that had a decisive impact on the outcome of the series.

The 2006 Finals are remembered not only for the fierce competition, but also for the controversial officiating that seemed to favor Wade, the Heat’s MVP. Mark Cuban detailed his frustrationsParticularly evident in Game 3, which he considers a pivotal moment. “And then Dwyane Wade started driving to the basket,” Cuban recalled. “Every little touch, two shots, two shots. He literally — multiple games — shot more free throws than our entire team. And that was it, man. And it was painful.”

Mark Cuban criticizes Heat legend Dwyane Wade’s officiating during controversial 2006 NBA Finals

Beyond the frequency of Wade’s trips to the free-throw line, Cuban also expressed concerns about the process for selecting Finals referees. He criticized the system for its emphasis on seniority over merit, which he said compromised the fairness of the game. “I was never penalized for it because — but they did the Finals refereeing, they did it a lot differently back then. It was mostly about who had the most seniority. And that didn’t mean they were the best referees. And it wasn’t a good series for us in terms of officiating, but that’s the way it was,” he explained.

Cuban’s irritation reached a fever pitch in Game 3, when the Mavericks, with a 14-point lead, appeared headed for a series sweep. Cuban vividly described his premature celebration and subsequent collapse: “I was sitting behind the bench. And I’ll never forget, I remember getting up and thinking, ‘Damn, we have a chance to sweep these guys.’ We’re up 14 in the third. And boom, Udonis Haslem steals, breaks away.” It marked the beginning of the Heat’s renaissance, marked by unexpected moments like Shaquille O’Neal hitting two crucial free throws despite his poor shooting average.

Cuban’s Reflection on the 2006 Finals and the Mavericks’ Final Redemption in 2011

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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban interacts with the crowd during action against the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Golden 1 Center.
© Cary Edmondson-USA Today Sports

Throughout the finals, Dwyane Wade’s performance was simply spectacularscoring 36 points in Game 4, 43 points in Game 5 and 36 again in Game 6. In the decisive Game 6, Wade made 21 free throws, nearly matching the entire Mavericks team, solidifying his dominance and securing the NBA Finals MVP award.

Looking back on the 2006 Finals, Cuban sees the series as marred by biased officiating that heavily favored the opposition, casting a shadow over what was otherwise a strong performance by the Mavericks. Despite the bitterness of that loss, Cuban acknowledges the growth and lessons learned that contributed to the Mavericks’ redemptive victory over the Heat in 2011. The pain of the 2006 NBA Finals lingers, but the Mavericks’ victory in 2011 helps ease that frustration, showing how they bounced back and ultimately found success.

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