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Mavs' Barnes slams Cuban's 'mixtapes' comments: 'I don't find it funny'

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes took exception to team owner Mark Cuban's comments on the journey aspiring players should take on their way to the NBA.

Speaking with Eurohoops about Slovenian-born rookie Luka Doncic, Cuban said, "If we took our best kids and seven years before they are McDonald's All-American, we sent them over to Slovenia to get an education, the league would be a thousand times better.

"They just learn how to play basketball while our guys learn how to taunt and put together mixtapes."

Barnes, a Maverick since 2016, rebuked Cuban's comments.

"As a statement, I don't agree with it. As a joke I don't find it funny. And frankly I think it doesn't reflect what makes the NBA special," he said in a statement to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

"The great thing about our league is that players come from all over the world," Barnes continued. "We are raised in every background imaginable and bring unique perspectives because of it. We should celebrate that.

"We bring those perspectives on each other, on issues in our communities and we aren't afraid to learn from and share those perspectives. That's our strength."

Barnes earned a spot in the 2010 McDonald's All-America Game before the Golden State Warriors drafted him seventh overall in 2012.

The 26-year-old is currently second on his team in scoring, averaging 18.2 points. He trails only Doncic, who's leading the Rookie of the Year conversation with 18.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists through 29 games.

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