Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban heard about the most recent episode of Lakers drama. He's not sympathetic.
"I could care less," Cuban said an hour before the Lakers and Mavericks played Wednesday in Dallas.
The latest: Magic Johnson said Kobe Bryant and Lakers executive Jim Buss needed to meet so Bryant would be more aware of the Lakers' future plans.
"Then if Magic says that, I hope they don't [meet]," Cuban said. "The more drama in other teams' locker rooms, the happier I am. I hope there's incredible drama in 29 locker rooms."
Cuban admitted missing a certain type of drama.
"I miss Phil [Jackson]," Cuban said. "Phil was smart. He was fun to mess with, knowing that he'd come right back, return volley, and I'd return volleys like a good tennis match. The volleys went on and on. They got more intense. I really miss that. I hope he gets back in the NBA. You don't often find the perfect bucket boy."
Cuban and Jackson fenced with each other for more than a decade over a litany of issues.
They started dueling in 2000 when Cuban scolded the Lakers for spending more like the Clippers during a slow off-season. He also said they pocketed profits at the expense of the team.
Jackson replied that Cuban should "keep his mouth shut."
They went back and forth a few years later after Jackson said Cuban was trying to "sally up points" by intimidating referees.
Cuban responded with a blog entry titled "I Own Phil Jackson" and wondered why Jackson mentioned him so often. "How can the NBA coach with so many championship rings find me so intimidating?" Cuban wrote.
Jackson responded that Cuban was "so easy to tweak" and promised to "copyright myself" so Cuban could indeed own him.
Maybe they really do miss each other.
--Mike Bresnahan
