Baylor All-American star Brittney Griner could have a chance to tryout for the NBA, if it's up to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
On Tuesday, the business mogul announced that he would be willing to give Griner a shot to prove herself in the all men's professional basketball league. Cuban said he is considering drafting her in the second round of the NBA or letting her tryout for the Mavericks summer league team.
The 6-foot-8, three-time All-American and Big 12 player of the year has dominated women's college basketball using her size and athleticism to score 3,283 points and block 748 shots in her career. She also had 18 dunks, including 11 her senior season. There's no doubt that Griner has skills, but the question remains as to how she would measure up to the best male players in the world based on the physicality differences between male and female athletes.
"If she is the best on the board, I will take her," Cuban said before the Mavs' Tuesday night game against the LA Lakers. "I've thought about it. I've thought about it already. Would I do it? Right now, I'd lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance, and it's not like the likelihood of any late-50s draft pick has a good chance of making it."
Griner responded to Cuban's offer via Twitter writing, "I would hold my own! Lets do it," on Tuesday night.
Cuban noted that it's difficult to evaluate whether Griner could play in the NBA because of the caliber of her competition which he compared to scouting players from small schools. However, Cuban said he would seriously extend an invitation for Griner to try out in the summer at the least.
"She'd still have to make the team," Cuban said. "I'm not going to carry her just to carry her. I don't think, anyways. But I certainly wouldn't be opposed to giving her the opportunity."
Cuban also noted that Griner playing in the NBA's Las Vegas summer league would have tremendous marketing potential.
"It would, wouldn't it? See how she could do?" Cuban said. "That'd sell out a few games."