The Dallas Mavericks were one of the worst teams in the 1990s, never making the postseason, not once. However, things began to shift when they handed the keys of their offense to a Canadian guard named Steve Nash . After being named a full-time starter, he, along with German superstar Dirk Nowitzki and All-Star wingman Michael Finley, drove the team to new heights, and they barged into the postseason in 2001.
Nash never looked back after that, becoming an All-Star and a member of the All-NBA team in two of the next three seasons. However, after the Mavs flamed out in the first round in 2004, the franchise, particularly team owner Mark Cuban , had a huge decision on its hands.
With Nash entering free agency, Cuban had to decide if he was going to match the Phoenix Suns ' $63 million offer or let their floppy-haired All-Star playmaker walk. History shows that Cuban decided against matching the Suns' offer sheet—something that Nash took personally.
As critical as the roles of Nash, Nowitzki and Finley were in elevating the Mavs to contender status in the West, Cuban's purchase of the team in 2000 was also a turning point in the franchise's history. In the brash billionaire, the Mavs finally had an owner who wasn't shy about giving the players the best amenities and spending a lot to get the players they needed.
Unfortunately for Nash, despite his achievements, contributions and impeccable chemistry with Nowitzki, Cuban didn't think he was a guard who could lead them to the promised land and was only willing to offer a four-year deal that would pay him $9 million a year.
As Nash told Cuban about the offer the Suns tendered him, the latter said he would speak to Nash's agent and see what they could work out. They never came close to an agreement, and the prolific guard made his deal with the Suns official on July 14, 2004.
Being an NBA veteran meant that Nash understood how NBA teams operated; it was always about the bottom line. However, what got Nash's goat was that Cuban didn't hesitate to pay players who didn't come close to what he was capable of.
"He paid a lot of guys who never came close to living up to their contract," Steve said .
It's curious how Cuban could justify paying the likes of Alan Henderson and Keith Van Horn a lot of money for their paltry production. Henderson played 78 games for the Mavs during the 2004-05 season and averaged a measly 3.5 points per game.
KVH, meanwhile, was acquired at the trade deadline and averaged 12.2 points that season. However, the following season, his numbers dipped to 8.9 points per game—a terrible number considering he was paid $15.6 million that season.
"To draw the line on me, a guy who always showed up and worked hard and was a big part of the team's success—it hurt," Nash admitted.
Nash more than proved to Cuban he was worth the money he commanded and more as he was named the NBA's MVP on back-to-back seasons, leading the Suns' high-octane offense to new heights and turning them into legitimate title contenders.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
