Cuban Denies Calling Martin 'a Punk'

Tempers were flying high following the Denver Nuggets' Game 3 victory on Saturday in Dallas.

While cameras caught Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, shoving a cameraman after the buzzer sounded, Cuban is denying a Denver Post report claiming he approached Nuggets' forward Kenyon Martin's mother, Lydia Moore, after the game and said, "Your son is a punk."

FanHouse contacted Cuban via e-mail on Monday and asked if he ever said that to Moore. "Absolutely not," Cuban replied.

Martin's agent, Brian Dyke, told the Denver newspaper that Cuban did in fact say that to Martin's mother.

Martin is convinced Cuban approached his mother unprovoked, and is reportedly not happy about it.

"Don't say nothing to my kids or my family," Martin said, according to The Post. "If you got something to say, say it to me. But I'm going to take care of it. I'm not going to do the whole media thing, back and forth. That's his thing. I'm more of a face-to-face type of dude."

"So whenever the opportunity presents itself, then I will address it. But I got a game to go win. At some point I will, but I got a game to go win, first and foremost. So that's my focus and concentration right now."

Cuban did admit to the Denver Post on Sunday that he said to Martin's mother, "That includes your son," when a fan screamed about the Nuggets being "thugs."

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Jay Triano , right, and Toronto Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo pose for pictures following a news conference in Toronto on Monday, May 11, 2009. Triano signed a three-year contract Monday to coach the Toronto Raptors, dropping the interim tag after taking over the team during the season. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Chris Young)

Jay Triano smiles at a news conference in Toronto on Monday, May 11, 2009. Triano signed a three-year contract Monday to coach the Toronto Raptors, dropping the interim tag after taking over the team during the season. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Chris Young)

Jay Triano reacts to a reporter's question during a news conference in Toronto on Monday, May 11, 2009. Triano signed a three-year contract Monday to coach the Toronto Raptors, dropping the interim tag after taking over the team during the season. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Chris Young)

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Of course, Cuban was fuming over the fact that no whistle was blown after it appeared as though Mavs guard Antoine Wright had deliberately tried to foul Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony with seconds remaining in the game. Some NBA analysts have suggested that the reason no foul was called was because Wright lifted both his hands after hitting Anthony, a reaction most players do to show they haven't touched an opposing player.

"They are wrong," Cuban replied when asked about the foul in question. "Any offensive player will tell you that in that situation, when you feel the foul, or feel it coming, you start in a shooting motion. So Wright risked having a shooting foul with three shots being called."

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

5-11-2009 @ 6:07PM

Mike said...

Mark, please sell your team to an adult,Please!!!!!!!

5-11-2009 @ 6:11PM

Mr.G said...

The no-call on that intentional foul was definitely the wrong call. - K. Martin showed no class whatsoever,but Cuban is just a doosh and showed even less class.Cuban has always been low class,so it's nothing new for him.

5-11-2009 @ 6:21PM

klsyanderson said...

That's douche, French for stream of water.

5-11-2009 @ 7:24PM

cuzrodeo said...

Are you kidding! The fault is not on the ref...everyone who has ever played basketball or watched much basketball knows that the protocol for taking an intentional "foul to give" is to wrap your arms around the guy! 1) to prevent him from getting off a shot attempt and/or going to the foul line and 2) to make sure the foul is not missed by the official. Boo Hoo Dallas...you blew it! Suck it up and come back strong in the next game if you have the fortitude!

5-11-2009 @ 6:16PM

almarcusp said...

Nothing against our Dallas players, I think they are mentally "weak" as Magic said, because their owner is a mental midget. They fired Avery because he was too tough on the players, well they are in need of some serious mental and physical toughness right now. AJ knew what he was doing, Cuban is the cry baby version of Al Davis. Another rich pus*y who throws a fit when things do not go his way....I want AJ back, Cuban is giving us a very bad name. I DO NOT blame the REFS, I remember learning "to not stop until, I heard a whistle" in 5th grade basketball. Honestly, this year the Nuggets are the better team, sorry Mavs Fans, I have to be honest, we are 0-7 against them, 1-6 wouldn't be much better.

5-11-2009 @ 6:20PM

Come on Mavs Fans we should be able win and lose like men....do not defend Cuban, he is our biggest problem.

5-11-2009 @ 6:31PM

TELJ said...

That wouldn't a foul! If he really wanted to foul he should have grabbed/wrapped him up! Any idiot knows that if you're gonna foul in a situation like that you don't let him continue to shoot! He did none of that.

5-11-2009 @ 6:39PM

Go Rockets!!!!!!
Cuban, watch a team with class Tuesday night.
Camm Leslie A. and get some tips on how to run a team with a lot of class.

5-11-2009 @ 6:49PM

bigdaddye150 said...

Look I dont give a damn what Mark said about K martin but you should never talk about any ones mom. I know kids with bad moms and the one thing you should never do is talk about someone mom.And that he should get his ass kicked.

5-12-2009 @ 9:38AM

dtenore said...

Read the article: Cuban didn't talk about K-Mart's mom, he talked TO K-Mart's mom.
And Cuban ought to "man up", because K-Mart is a punk. Not that it really means much coming from me or Cuban... since neither of us is going to take him on out on the court

5-11-2009 @ 6:50PM

jbmbglen said...

Mark Cuban is a credible expert on what a punk is. He has been one for a very long time. What a hopeless jerk.

5-11-2009 @ 6:52PM

casagroup1 said...

Cuban gave in to his punk players and got rid of Avery Johnson. He is getting what he deserves for that idiotic move. That being said, you don't talk to someone's mom. Ever. Ever.

5-11-2009 @ 6:58PM

subocarlin said...

Martin may be a "punk" most of the palyers in the NBA are " rich ,pprotected,over-paid,un-educated,BLACK, punks---but Cuban should take it up with them if he has the b-lls to,which we all know he doesn't,not tell their Mama's about it.
The Mav's are done and the Nug's have finally learned how to win in the NBA___play like thugs---starting to look like the NHL----what a mess folks!

5-11-2009 @ 9:06PM

tyroneflw said...

Umm, aren't there black players on the Mavericks?

5-11-2009 @ 7:18PM

distantdrum said...

Mark Cuban is just another wealthy dirtbag that has been fined millions of dollars for his classlessness and still doesn't get it. He might want to turn his attention to his overpaid player who obviously doesn't know how to intelligently foul an opponent in that situation. I have to say that I am so sick of this rich jackass that even though I know the ref blew the non call, I couldn't be happier that he did.

5-11-2009 @ 8:25PM

prokjp said...

None of this would have happened if the refs didn't blow another call right before the "no foul" call. When Nene went baseline a couple of plays before he stepped on the baseline, the refs missed it and they got 2 points. Do the math, the 3 pointer wouldn't have mattered.

5-11-2009 @ 8:32PM

mrwatt said...

Forget carmelo's shot. Forget the bum call. Remember dirk's last shot. He should have milked the shotclock and there would not have been time for denvers last shot.

5-11-2009 @ 8:34PM

jasonbright500 said...

I hope K-Mart knocks his ass out. This is just another example of a rich brat throwing a tantrum when he doesn't get his way. I hope his mother is proud.

5-11-2009 @ 10:37PM

kramer5 said...

how has cuban not been banned from courtside seating? i understand supporting your team, but he continually has confronted refs, coaches, players and fans. if a normal fan had done anything he has done, they immediately would be removed from the building.