Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is known for his outbursts at referees and his outspoken ways and he made another big statement on Tuesday, saying that he would give Baylor women's star Brittney Griner the chance to see if she could play in the NBA.
According to ESPN.com, Cuban said that the 6-foot-8 three-time All-American and Big 12 player of the year deserves a chance and that he would consider drafting her in the second round of the draft or bringing her in for work on their summer league team. Griner is considered to be one of, if not the, top women's player in the nation after scoring 3,283 points and blocking 748 shots and dunking 18 times in the career in school.
"If she is the best on the board, I will take her," Cuban said before the Mavs' Tuesday night game against the Los Angeles Lakers. "I've thought about it. I've thought about it already. Would I do it? Right now, I'd lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance, and it's not like the likelihood of any late-50s draft pick has a good chance of making it."
Griner said she would love the chance and she would follow in the footsteps of UCLA star Ann Meyers, who tried out for the Pacers in the late 70s. Cuban said that more work would need to be done and film looked at before making any decisions, but that with her skill set she should have no issues working hard and trying out.
"She'd still have to make the team," Cuban said. "I'm not going to carry her just to carry her. I don't think, anyways. But I certainly wouldn't be opposed to giving her the opportunity."
