Report: Silver stopped Mavs from playing Romo by refusing to honor contract

Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban wanted more than just a simple layup line and a photo-op with retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

Cuban approached the league about playing Romo in Tuesday's game against the Denver Nuggets, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver refused to honor Romo's contract, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.

"I told him what I was going to do and said, 'Fine me if you don't like it,'" the defiant Cuban told reporters of his conversation with Silver.

"Anybody who thinks a layup line is disrespectful, hasn't watched an NBA game," Cuban said. "We've got people shooting half-court shots at every break, we've got kids for ball boys ... We're entertainment. And if they're so self-important they can't recognize that, it's on them. Not me."

Watch: Mavericks pretend to sub Romo into game

Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle was a little more understanding with respect to Silver's decision.

"Signing him and stuff like that, would have been too much for a lot of reasons," Carlisle said. "No. 1, he's a football athlete that's not ready to play in an NBA game. That's very risky.

"No. 2, to sign a guy with all of our requirements from a physical standpoint with the hours and hours of screening and all that kinds of other stuff, it just wasn't worth going there. And that's not really what this is about."

Related: 5 best moments from Tony Romo's NBA career

Romo ended up taking part in Mavericks practice and shootaround, was introduced as an honorary sixth starter, and was treated to a pregame speech from Dirk Nowitzki. He spent the remainder of the game in sweats sitting next to Cuban but did not check in despite protestations from the home crowd.

"This is an honor I could never have dreamed of," Romo told the crowd. "It's a little embarrassing, but I tell you what I'm very lucky. Thank you, Dallas. I love you."