NBA: Quotes of the week

Another Cuban missile

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, alluding to Dwight Howard’s decision to sign with the Houston Rockets: “Any potential free agent is an idiot if they consider the Mavs and don’t come.”

Oh, is that all?

Sacramento Kings minority owner Shaquille O’Neal, on his message to center DeMarcus Cousins: “I told him, ‘If you want to be the man, you have to start acting like a man and playing like a man.’ That was the first conversation I had with him. The second conversation I had with him, I told him to stop being so sensitive. I said, ‘When you become big time and get max numbers, you have to represent yourself as such.’”

Early season discord

Philadelphia 76ers swingman Evan Turner, after General Manager Sam Hinkie and the team did not agree to an extension on Turner’s rookie contract before the deadline: “Hinkie is not my GM. He doesn’t owe me anything. We’re going in different directions and everything like that.”

A material matter

TNT analyst Charles Barkley, on LeBron James’ headband: “LeBron’s headband is so big, Spud Webb could use it as a shower curtain. It’s the biggest headband in the world.”