21°c Partly cloudy
10°c Sunny
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Mavs owner Mark Cuban disappointed with way Derek Fisher left Dallas before signing with OKC
DALLAS - Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he is disappointed with how Derek Fisher left the team earlier this season, only to eventually end up signing with Oklahoma City last month.
The Mavericks faced Fisher and the Thunder on Sunday night, their first meeting since the 17th-year point guard asked Dallas to waive him in December.
"I wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't contribute," Cuban said. "But that doesn't change what he did and how he did it. It's not so much what he did, but how he did it."
Fisher played nine games with Dallas before asking to be released because he said he was having a difficult time being away from his family in Los Angeles.
Fisher signed with the Thunder on Feb. 25, a little more than two months after the Mavericks granted his request to be waived.
Before Sunday's game, Cuban said he hoped Fisher would get booed. He got his wish when Fisher entered the game to a cold response from the fans with 1:45 left in the first quarter.
Mavericks fans then cheered loudly when Fisher picked up his first foul 10 seconds later.
Cuban said he had a sour taste in his mouth because Fisher called him multiple times asking for advice and pitched the owner for a job before the team signed him Nov. 29.
"Look, my personality is to try to help somebody," Cuban said. "Particularly somebody I thought one way about, even though it didn't turn out to be that way. I was just trying to be nice and help. Usually when you help somebody, you expect some semblance of loyalty back. So when you don't get it, it's more disappointing."
In his nine-game stay with the Mavericks, Fisher averaged 8.6 points and 3.4 assists before he left in the first quarter of his final game with a knee injury and was waived Dec. 22
This is Fisher's second stint with Oklahoma City.
Fisher won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers before getting traded to Houston last season, then buying his way out of his contract with the Rockets to sign with the Thunder.
He played in 20 regular-season games and then all 20 playoff games last season with Oklahoma City.
More Basketball
- Back to Top
- Return to Basketball
More Basketball
(1 of 7 articles for today)
Michael Jordan says his NBA franchise is changing its name from Bobcats to Charlotte Hornets
5:13 PM 0CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Bobcats owner Michael Jordan says he's changing his team's name to the Charlotte Hornets.
Jordan said at a ...
Poll
Most Popular Basketball
- Reports: Colangelo out as Raptors GM, offered corporate role with team
- Knicks could use another scorer and low-post threat; unsure if it can be Amare Stoudemire
- A year removed from missing most of Heat-Pacers, Bosh eager for the rematch in East finals
- Men say they were beaten after taking photo of Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard in Portland
- Tarik Black transfers to Kansas after 3 seasons at Memphis
- Thunder star Kevin Durant pledges $1M from foundation for Oklahoma City tornado relief
- Warriors GM Bob Myers: 'Sense of desperation has passed' after franchise's surprising season
- Person familiar with situation: Jordan changing team name from Bobcats to Charlotte Hornets
- After reaching second round, Knicks say they need more time, not an overhaul
- Pacers guard George Hill cleared to play Game 6 vs. Knicks in return from concussion
- Top prospect follows his heart
- Serbian police say former Heat, Mavericks player Predrag Danilovic seriously injured in fight
- Olympiakos retains Euroleague title by recovering from 17-point deficit to beat Madrid 100-88
- Mayor: Deal to sell Kings to Sacramento group has been signed
- Mike Krzyzewski return as US men's Olympic basketball coach no longer ruled out
- Spurs hold off Warriors 94-82 in Game 6, advance to Western Conference finals against Memphis
- Capsule preview of the NBA's conference finals
- Anthony blocked in fourth quarter as Knicks knocked out by Pacers in Game 6
- Three former national basketball team members inducted into hall of fame
- Warriors forward Harrison Barnes leaves playoff game with head injury
- Judge says auction house cannot sell Kobe Bryant's stuff yet as legal issues get complicated
- ESPN says it regrets that reporter described gay NBA player Collins as a sinner
- Jason Collins: Support after his decision to come out as gay NBA player has been 'incredible'
- 'Do me a solid' and free jailed American, Dennis Rodman asks North Korean leader in tweet
- Obama, Bill Clinton commend NBA player Collins on coming out as gay, offer support
- Real Madrid upsets Barcelona 74-67, Olympiakos stuns CSKA 69-52 to reach Euroleague final
- Olympiakos retains Euroleague title by recovering from 17-point deficit to beat Madrid 100-88
- MB Basketball hall of fame names new inductees
- LeBron James wins MVP for 4th time, 1 vote shy of being a unanimous selection
- Boston writer explains why he didn't cast MVP ballot for LeBron James
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.