Mark Cuban names referee as Miami Heat’s hero in 2006 NBA Finals, blames him for Dallas Mavericks loss

But this year’s NBA Finals were far from the only ones that came down to a controversial decision or moment.

The 2006 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat were just as controversial. And to this day, Mark Cuban is upset about the situation.

Mark Cuban says NBA Referee cost Dallas Mavericks 2006 NBA Finals vs. Miami Heat

Mark Cuban was a guest on the Run Your Race podcast recently. When discussing the 2006 NBA Finals, Cuban seemed to show he still isn’t over the loss.

He claims that it wasn’t Dwyane Wade or anyone on the Miami Heat, but rather, Bennett Salvatore, the referee during the NBA Finals, that cost the Dallas Mavericks the NBA championship.

“We should have won. Someone brought it up to me yesterday. They’re like, ‘Yeah, you think Dwyane Wade beat you?’

“I’m like, ‘No, Bennett Salvatore beat us.’ For those who don’t know, he’s a ref. And I stand by that.”

Miami Heat were the superior team in the 2006 NBA Finals

For Mark Cuban to still be upset about the 2006 NBA Finals, specifically about a foul call against Dirk Nowitzki in Game 5 of the series, is quite ridiculous.

The Miami Heat made big trades in 2006 to build their roster around Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, and they reaped the rewards of those moves by winning a hard-fought series.

The Dallas Mavericks would get payback on the Miami Heat in 2011, when Dirk Nowitzki shut down the Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh en route to the NBA championship.

Many consider Dirk’s 2011 run to the championship with the Mavericks the single-greatest playoff run in NBA history.