Mark Cuban admits halftime confrontation prompted decision to dump Lamar Odom

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban acknowledged that his locker room argument with Lamar Odom was the final straw in the team’s decision to cut ties with the player.

ESPN.com reported Tuesday that Cuban, during halftime of the Mavericks’ win in Memphis Saturday night, asked Odom if he was “in or out.” Odom reacted angrily to the question and did not show up on the Dallas bench until after the third quarter had already started. The following day, Easter Sunday, the Mavs began talks to part ways with Odom.

Mark Cuban admits there was a confrontation with Lamar Odom. (AP photo)
"Well, yeah," Cuban told ESPN when asked whether if the exchange prompted the Mavs to make the move. "Just his response to it. Everybody goes through ups and downs. Every player does. We tried to put him in a position to succeed. You guys saw it, saw what we did. It didn't work.

"And I just asked him, does he want to go for it or not? Is he in or is he out? I think he thought we were playing poker. I just didn't get a commitment. And that was the end."

While Odom was never happy—or productive on the court—after being traded from the Lakers to the Mavs before the season, Cuban largely supported Odom through his tumultuous season. Cuban told ESPN he tried to turn the situation into a positive "the first 17 times," but that the team just had to move on with its playoff push.

"We hope it's addition by subtraction," Cuban said.