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Mark Cuban: 'Every bit of me wanted to kick [Rockets GM Daryl Morey's] ass'

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports / reuters

In the immortal words of Slim Charles,  "game the same, just got more fierce."

In speaking to KRLD FM 105.3 Radio on Friday, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban didn't hide his feelings towards the Houston Rockets and their GM Daryl Morey.

As transcribed by the Dallas Morning News:

On if things are personal with the Rockets with Daryl Morey:

“Oh, all good business is personal. Trust me, there’s nobody more competitive than me. Every bit of me wanted to kick his ass and I would have felt bad. Obviously they got Dwight [Howard] a couple of years ago. Yeah, I wanted to beat him. And that’s a compliment to him. Daryl is very smart. It was very much like a game of chess.”

On the Rockets making inquiries on Dirk in the trade market:

“I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ He asked if we’d trade Dirk. At first I thought it was taunting, but now knowing more about Daryl I don’t think it was in hindsight. That’s just not his style. It says a lot about their approach more than anything else. They just have a different understanding and approach to chemistry than we do. Some teams, and that’s not just the Rockets, just put together talent and the talent takes care of itself. We think chemistry matters. When Carmelo came to visit us, there was no chance that we were going to put him in someone else’s jersey number and put it on the outside of the arena. That’s not our style.”

The rivalry between the two Texas clubs was flared this offseason with Chandler Parsons' messy breakup with the Rockets. Morey famously declared that the deal was "untradable," and Rockets guard James Harden inadvertently called Parsons a "role player." Harden and Parsons have since mended fences on the ordeal, but it's clear bad blood still exists between the two franchises.

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