Mark Cuban Once Beat Dirk Nowitzki in Game of 1-On-1, But There's a Catch

If Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban squared off in a game of 1-on-1, who would you put your money on? With all due respect to Cuban, it would have to be Nowitzki, right? After all, Dirk is the one with the 2007 NBA MVP trophy and 13 All-Star Game appearances. Believe it or not, we would all be wrong because, according to Sports Illustrated writer Jake Fischer, these two guys did play against one another once, and Cuban came away victorious.

Now, there is one important part of the story we're leaving out. Fischer claims that after Nowitzki got his first point, Cuban scored back-to-back baskets, and abruptly stopped the game.

Now look, we have questions. Considering Nowitzki towers over Cuban, was the 18-year NBA veteran simply trying to take it easy on him? Since Cuban just bought the team, did Dirk want to let the guy who signs his checks have his little moment of glory? Or does Cuban really have some skills on the basketball court, and we're all just underestimating him?

Say what you will about Mark playing fair or not, but Nowitzki came away from that game knowing that his new team owner would do just about anything to win. And Cuban's been that way ever since.

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