The 2006 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat is one of the more underrated series in NBA history. It was a clash between stars, with prime Dirk Nowitzki taking on a young Dwyane Wade and an aging Shaquille O’Neal. The Miami Heat won that series, but it set up the stage for a rivalry that lasted for quite a long time.
The Dallas Mavericks went up 2-0 against the Heat in 2006, but then Miami won 4 straight to take the championship. Games 5 and 6 saw Dwyane Wade put up some huge numbers, a lot of it generously padded by free throws. And when Dirk and the Mavs spoke about the referees next season, they drew the ire of Wade, who took a massive shot at Dirk Nowitzki in return.
“Dirk says they gave us the championship last year, but he’s the reason they lost the championship, because he wasn’t the leader that he’s supposed to be in the closing moments. That’s because of great defense by us, but also he wasn’t assertive enough as a leader’s supposed to be.”
This is pretty straightforward and brutal, something that no NBA star would regularly say about another. Dwyane Wade was young, though he has since admitted that a lot of his beef with Dirk was him acting childish. And Dirk got the last laugh when he beat the Heatles in their first year to win his championship as well. As for the moment, Mark Cuban stepped in to fire back at Wade.
Mark Cuban Roasted Dwyane Wade In Defense Of Dirk Nowitzki
Mark Cuban has always been a loud and unapologetic personality, and there are very few things as important to him as the Dallas Mavericks. After Wade took this massive shot at Nowitzki, Cuban stepped in to defend his superstar with some crisp words of his own.
“I guess you have earned the right to criticize Dirk with an obvious display of your own leadership skills,” Cuban replied. “You are an amazing player, Dwayne. I love watching you shoot free throws. What you know about Dirk’s leadership skills is nonexistent. You don’t have a clue. Your ability to evaluate leadership skills … you obviously have an overinflated value of your own.”
The rivalry between the Mavericks and the Miami Heat was quite intense, and both teams and superstars got their fair share of digs in. Both won the ultimate prize against the other as well, which makes it even more amazing. The NBA has had a lot of talent in recent years, and many superstars are balling out, but the league needs some great rivalries like this once again.
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