Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban used to believe that Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade was nothing but a talented prima-donna hellbent on promoting himself.
That was back in 2006 with the Dallas Mavericks lost the NBA Finals to the Heat, watching Wade trot to the line for many a questionable foul.
Has the anger carried over to 2014 for the outspoken Mavs owner?
"Not anymore," Cuban said when asked if he still dislikes Wade, via Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. "At the beginning, I did because I think he thought he was entitled to everything that happened in that (2006) series. But it's been eight years. I mean, I take a little bit of joy in games where he doesn't go to the free throw line. But I like D-Wade now. He's a guy who does a lot of good things off the court and I have to respect that."
"But if you'd have asked me eight years ago, it would have been a different answer," Cuban continued. "There was a time I did a commercial and he was there. He walked out of the room so I wouldn't see him. I walked out a different door so I wouldn't have to talk to him."
However, time, and perhaps perspective, have changed Cuban's view of Wade.
"I give him credit off the court," he said. "He's gone from flash to being a good representative of the NBA. I respect that. He seems to be more about family and community. He went through some off-the-court hardships, I guess. But yeah, I have a lot of respect for him now. I think he and LeBron helped each other grow up. I don't hold a lot of animosity at all."
Cuban did add that he's still not the biggest fan of the Heat. That isn't likely to change anytime soon.
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