Mark Cuban: The NBA Is The Most Competitive It’s Ever Been

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban recently appeared on First Take, where he discussed the current state of the NBA and its unprecedented level of competitiveness. Cuban, who has been involved in the league for over two decades, shared insights into how the NBA has evolved and why he believes the league is more balanced than ever before.

"I think competitively, it's the best it's ever been. I remember being in meetings and having small market teams just come and beg for revenue sharing and this and that." 

"Now, everybody's competitive and there's, you know, there's gonna be teams that tank for a Cooper Flagg. And so that might not work as well as the NBA wants, but still, I mean, there are a lot of really good teams." 

"It used to be back in the day, like you have Dirk and bring in Jason Kidd, you can win 60 games. Now it's hard for teams to win 60 games and it's not unusual if no one does. So I think the competitive balance is great." 

"In terms of the economics, we still have to deal with the fallout of Bally basically going out of business. Like the Mavs lost a huge contract and there's no way you replace that revenue unless you have real estate or other sources."

"And so how that impacts the actual cap next year, even with the big TV deals kicking in, is going to be interesting. I don't think the cap's gonna jump nearly as much as people expect." (2:43)

Reflecting on past years, he recalled a time when smaller market teams struggled and were often reliant on revenue sharing to remain viable. Cuban emphasized that, unlike in the past when a few powerhouse teams dominated the league, the current landscape is much more level. Teams across the league now have a legitimate chance to contend.

One factor Cuban pointed to is how difficult it is for teams to win 60 games in a season, which was more achievable in previous decades. This level of parity, where no team is overwhelmingly dominant, underscores how strong the competition is today.

A major element contributing to this balance is the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the changes it brings, including the luxury tax and the apron system. These mechanisms make it much harder for teams with deep pockets to simply buy their way into contention by stacking rosters with top talent. The new rules encourage teams to be more strategic with their roster building, putting more emphasis on player development, smart trades, and salary cap management.

Cuban also touched on the potential impact of Bally Sports' bankruptcy in March 2023. As the largest regional sports network in the U.S., Bally's collapse has created significant financial challenges for teams like the Mavericks, who lost a major broadcasting contract. Cuban cautioned that this financial uncertainty could affect the league’s salary cap in the near future.

Despite these economic challenges, Cuban is confident that the NBA remains in a strong place competitively. In the Western Conference, 14 out of the 15 teams have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs, further highlighting how balanced the league has become.

In Mark Cuban's view, the NBA has never been more competitive, and while challenges like the new CBA and financial uncertainties loom, the league's balance and depth of talent are setting the stage for a golden era of basketball.