Mark Cuban talks Kobe Bryant on ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’

The Lakers weren’t happy with recent comments from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban that the Lakers might need to consider using an amnesty on Kobe Bryant this summer.

The NBA agreed, fining Cuban $500,000.

Bryant would score 38 points against the Mavericks in a decisive 103-99 victory in late February, telling Cuban to “Amnesty THAT” on Twitter.

On Wednesday, Cuban appeared on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” and while he touched upon the Bryant controversy, he didn’t want to get himself in more trouble.

“I would never say anything about Kobe, but what happened was I was trying to explain the collective bargaining agreement, which is hard to do and why the Mavs have signed certain players and not some others so I had to give an example,” Cuban said. “One of the examples I used included a player on the Lakers, but I can’t really go into it because the league called me up like they like to do and said, ‘You say one more word, and it’s going to cost you.’”

“When the league says that, it usually means $1 million, so we can’t talk about it,” Cuban continued.

Bryant is currently sidelined with a severely sprained ankle. The Mavericks are 30-34, three games behind the Lakers in the standings.

Cuban also sounded off on his relationship with Lakers fans on Twitter.

“I cannot even talk especially on Twitter. Everybody on Twitter, they get Twitter courage. If I even mention a Lakers name, my Twitter timeline just heats up with everybody,” Cuban said. “They’re going to burn down my house. They’re going to beat me up. They’re going to play me 1-on-1 and just stomp me. It’s just horrible.”

The Lakers host the Mavericks one final time April 2 at Staples Center. Dallas would even the season series at two apiece with a win.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.