Mark Cuban - Mavs Had An Alcoholic Player Regrets Losing Steve Nash And How To Celebrate Like A Billionaire

Dallas Maverick's head honcho Mark Cuban is the most colourful owner in the NBA, and in a new interview with Rolling Stone, the Shark Tank star and entrepreneur didn't pull any punches when it came to describing what life is like for a billionaire sport-team owner. 

In the chat with Rolling Stone's Kenneth Arthur he discusses the nature of owning a sports team as opposed to other businesses ("They don't throw parades when Apple has the biggest quarter in corporate history"), what he thinks of Mavs star and franchise cornerstone Dirk Nowitzki ("Talent without effort is wasted talent") and why NBA players don't seem to get into as much trouble as NFL players ("it's difficult to be a warrior on the field and a pussycat off of it, but more importantly, I think that all pro sports turn a blind eye to minor leaguers and collegiate athletes with checkered backgrounds").

He also reveals to Rolling Stone just how seriously the team takes their players psychology and health. "We've had a functioning alcoholic on the team in the past and we put together plans and programs to help him. We've had other issues when we have asked the player to leave the team." A situation that brings to mind the cases of Vin Baker and Greg Oden, as well as Ron Artest's admission of locker room drinking. 

As for Cuban's biggest regret? Letting two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash walk to Phoenix rather than matching the six-year $63 million deal offered to his then-point guard after the 2004 season, telling Rolling Stone that he "learned an expensive lesson." Nash would go on to win his two MVPs with the famed 'Seven Seconds or Less' Mike D'Antoni Suns; Cuban, however, would go to the NBA finals twice, winning in 2011. 

As to how to celebrate winning an NBA championship, Cuban tells Kenneth Arthur that "As long as you aren't driving or in a position to inflict harm on someone, and over the age of 21, feel free to get as fucked-up as you please after you win a championship. I know I did."

Nor, in typical fashion, does Cuban hold back at the end of the Rolling Stone interview; when asked to describe what the toughest aspect of being a billionaire is, he says "Nothing. It's fucking amazing and off the charts."

In addition to the Rolling Stone interview and his usual Shark Tank duties, Cuban made a guest appearance on ABC's Dallas-based sitcom Cristela this week, following his spot on FXX's The League earlier this year. You can check out his cameo out below. 

Zap2it First: Cristela loses her cool over Mark Cuban https://t.co/3tuNAXxA4r pic.twitter.com/3qhAHJRtNS

— Zap2it (@Zap2it) November 5, 2014