Dallas Mavericks: Why Mark Cuban Is the Greatest Owner in All of Sports

Mark Cuban has owned the Dallas Mavericks for 12 seasons, and in that time he has quickly made himself the most personable and, quite simply, the best owner in sports.

Whether he's jumping up and down courtside protesting a bad call or making savvy moves in the front office, Cuban is the most well-rounded proprietor in sports.

He is absolutely adored in the Dallas area and, more importantly, his players love him too.

So, here are six reasons why Mark Cuban is the best owner in all of professional sports.

Cuban Has Done Nothing but Win Since He Bought the Team

When Cuban bought the Mavericks on January 4, 2011, they were one of the most inept franchises in the NBA. But since he purchased the team, Dallas has transformed into one of the best.

In every season of his ownership, the Mavericks have made the postseason. Those 12 straight years of playoff basketball is currently the second-longest streak in the NBA.

But they don’t just get to the playoffs, they win too. Since Cuban took ownership of the team, they have appeared in the NBA finals twice, winning the franchise’s first championship in 2011.

However, perhaps the most important thing that Cuban has done for the Mavericks is establish an expectation of success.

Before Cuban bought the team, losing was the norm in Dallas. But after this season's first round exit, the disappointment from the players and the fans was evident.

That pride and those expectations can all be traced back to Cuban.

He Is a Fan Just Like the Rest of Us

How many other owners in sports are in the stands cheering and passionately supporting their team?

Not many, and no one else is as animated or as involved from the bleachers as Cuban.

Every game you can glance behind the Mavs' bench and see Cuban on his feet and enthusiastically rooting for his squad. He even gets on the refs, vehemently protesting every bad call.

Actually, Cuban's mouth has gotten him in trouble from time to time, as he has accumulated over $1.7 million in fines since he took ownership of the team.

Most of these fines have come from his criticism of officials—something any sports fan does in front of their TV on a daily basis. Only thing is, Cuban’s anger has costs him six figures.

He may not be the traditionally stoic owner on the sideline, but that's what makes him so relatable.

Cuban's Sports Knowledge Is Vast

There are a lot of owners who bought a sports franchise for the heck of it or because they felt like it would be a good business venture.

It’s that kind of attitude that causes a disconnect with the game, and in extent, few owners have a extensive working knowledge of their sport.

Cuban isn’t in that group though. He is 100 percent in tune with his franchise and is capable of discussing the nuances of the game.

He proved this comprehension last week, when he appeared on ESPN's First Take to debate Skip Bayless.

If you don't know who Bayless is, the best way to describe him would be as a professional troll who threw away his dignity to become an in-your-face TV personality.

In the past, Bayless has been highly criticized for his lack of basketball expertise, something Cuban exposed over and over again in this clip.

Cuban repeatedly discusses the intricacies of the Mavs' zone defense and defensive assignments, which is a feat few owners, let alone experts, could match.

He Is Committed to Winning

There are a lot of owners around the sports world that consider the proprietorship of their teams to be merely a business.

They look at the bottom line and if they can't make a profit, they won't spend the money to compete.

Cuban is the polar opposite of these owners.

The Mavericks are consistently over the salary cap, and always rank among the league leaders in luxury tax penalties.

It's not just in money spent though.

The Mavericks are always one of the most active teams in the NBA. Whether it's in free agency or through trades, Dallas is always looking to improve.

It's that attitude that led the Mavericks to their first NBA championship, and it’s that same aggressive style that will ensure Dallas’ return to contention soon.

With Cuban as owner, Mavs' players and fans can always expect to compete. If Cuban has anything to say about it, it'll be sooner rather than later too.

The Mavericks Players Love Their Owner

Cuban may not be the most popular personality across the country, but one thing is for sure—his players love him.

Dallas is known league-wide as a great place to play, and a huge part of that of that attractiveness is Cuban.

He provides his players with one of the best locker rooms in the NBA, treats his team like family and does whatever it takes to accommodate them.

This was never more evident than in his interaction with troubled guard Delonte West.

When West signed with the team, he was near penniless. To compensate for that, he was forced to sleep in the Mavs' locker room and even his car early on in the season.

But when Mark Cuban got wind of this, he immediately put a stop to it.

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“Soon as Mr. Cuban heard about that, he made one phone call and everybody was lining up to rent me an apartment,” West told the Dallas Morning News. “They were calling back saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got the penthouse suite for you.'"

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However, perhaps the best indication of the players' loyalty to their owner came in the celebration after the Mavericks won the title.

Cuban was right there along with his team, and his players embraced and reveled in the jubilation with him like a brother.

There is no better statement of admiration and love than that.

How Many Other Owners Have the Sense of Humor to Work at Dairy Queen

In one of his many tirades against NBA officiating, Cuban took a shot at referee Ed Rush, famously saying he wouldn't hire him to manage a Dairy Queen.

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"Ed Rush might have been a great ref, but I wouldn't hire him to manage a Dairy Queen," Cuban said in a story in The Dallas Morning News. "His interest is not in the integrity of the game or improving the officiating."

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The hard working folks at Dairy Queen took offense to this however, and challenged Cuban to manage the store for a day in a tongue and cheek letter.

Surprisingly, the good humored Cuban quickly accepted the offer and was working at a local fast food establishment within a week.

He was serving ice cream, cooking fries and assisting customers in one of the funniest acts by an owner in recent memory.

There isn't a single other owner in sports that would be willing to attempt this, let alone do it for a whole day.

It's that same good natured attitude that separates Cuban from other owners. Combine that with his will to win and it equals the best owner in sports.