Mark Cuban (AP)
The Mavericks could have a co-ed front court next season if Mark Cuban is serious about making a splash in this year’s draft.
The outspoken owner of the Mavericks said that he would have “no problem whatsoever” with selecting Baylor star Brittney Griner in June’s NBA Draft.
“If she is the best on the board, I will take her,” Cuban told ESPNDallas.com on Tuesday. “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 was the biggest star in women’s college hoops for her four seasons at Baylor, scoring 3,283 points, 748 blocks and more accolades than she can list. She won a national title last year with the Bears, but were upset by Louisville on Sunday in their bid to repeat.
The 6-foot-8 Griner enthusiastically responded to Cuban’s comments on Twitter, saying “I would hold my own! Lets [sic] do it.”
Cuban compared scouting Griner to scouting a player from a smaller or Division II school saying that the caliber of competition makes it difficult to assess how well she would fare in the NBA, but she would be given a fair shot if the team picks her.
“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.”
At the very least, Griner’s presence would fill some seats.
“It would, wouldn’t it? See how she could do?” Cuban said. “That’d sell out a few games.”
Griner would not be the first woman to get a chance at making an NBA team. In 1979, UCLA star Ann Meyers got a tryout from the Pacers.
asulla-heffinger@nypost.com