Winning an NBA championship requires a long-term sacrifice, and one example is Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki. The 14-time NBA All-Star helped the Mavs win their only championship in 2011, and his journey to achieve greatness was outstanding. The NBA franchise’s former principal and current minority owner, Mark Cuban, recently revealed the turning point in the German legend’s NBA career.
Mark Cuban recently appeared as a guest on the Club Shay Shay podcast and discussed various topics, including Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks. When host Shannon Sharpe opined that Luka could reach another level of greatness by working hard in the offseason. Cuban responded, “We all mature as we get older,” and gave an example of Nowitzki after the 2006 NBA Finals loss.
In the 2006 NBA Finals, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks lost 4-2 against Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal’s Miami Heat. Cuban claimed the 2006 three-point contest champion changed his approach toward his profession after the loss. He said, “When we lost in 2006 in the Finals to Miami, Dirk’s attitude changed completely.”
From giving up alcohol consumption and eating sweet and fried food during the season, Dirk Nowitzki became a “different human.” Cuban added, “Dirk just became a different human in terms of preparation. I mean, literally no alcohol during the season, which wasn’t how he used to be, trust me. No sweets, no fried food during the season.”
Mark Cuban Expects NBA Stars To Make $100 Million A Year Soon
During the interview, Sharpe asked about the possibility of NBA contracts reaching $1 billion worth. Cuban responded, “Yeah, for sure, but that presumes TV keeps going up the way it is… but you’re gonna see $100 million a year here shortly… Because if a TV contract has 10% increases in the cap, the way the CBA works. And you saw Steph had $62 million for one year. Luka will get a lot and it’s gonna go crazier.”
In the 2025 offseason, Luka Doncic will be eligible for a new contract extension that could be worth over $345 million. Many believe that if the 25-year-old Slovenian remains at the top of his game, he could reach a $100 million annual salary with new TV deals and an upcoming cap spike.
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