VP pick and roll.
Former Kamala Harris campaign surrogate and “Shark Tank” mogul Mark Cuban believes he can win the presidency by choosing an NBA legend as his running mate.
During an appearance on “The Steam Room” podcast, hosted by NBA TNT television personalities Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley, Cuban answered whether his recent turn as a political pundit would result in seeking elected office.
Cuban first said “hell no,” about running for higher office, but said one thing could possibly change his mind.
Kamala Harris’ failed campaign. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“Would your feeling on a run for office change if it were, say, a ticket of you and the Chuckster,” legendary basketball announcer Ernie “The Elevator” Johnson asked, referring to his co-host as the potential running mate.
“Yes, absolutely,” Cuban replied with relish. “We’d win running away. No question about it.”
“We’d win,” Barkley said in matter-of-fact agreement. “We’d definitely win. Yes absolutely, running away.”
Cuban heaped praise on Barkley, all but calling him a role model for civility and personability.
“Charles can talk to anybody and put himself in any circumstance and get along with everybody, and I think that’s what we need,” Cuban said.
Moments before, the Round Mound of Rebound himself asked Cuban whether he “seriously considered” seeking an elected office.
“I did a little bit,” Cuban said with a wince. “I even talked to a pollster. But then I talked to my family and we took a family vote and they said, “hell no.”
Cuban further elaborated that he believes today’s politics is “meaner” and that the “hate on social media” serves as a legitimate deterrent to his civic impulses.
office. Nathan Posner/Shutterstock
“If your kids live on social media, why would I put them through that?” Cuban asked rhetorically.
Cuban, who was an active surrogate for the Harris campaign, said he was disappointed with Trump’s election victory in November —- but he is more focused on the future than the past.
“What’s your first, initial reaction to the election going forward,” Barkley asked the minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.
“It’s like losing the last game of the season. You know? It’s a horrible feeling; walking off the court is awful. But, you know, you’ve got to look forward to next season,” said Cuban, Mavs lost in the NBA Finals last year.
“You can’t dwell on it, you’ve got to think what you can do going forward, and I care about this country, I love this country, and that’s important to me. It’s not about “I hate this person” or “I hate that person.” No. It’s about what can we do going forward,” he stated.
The billionaire turned political pundit made news throughout the election cycle, oftentimes due to high-profile flubs.
Cuban faced backlash after claiming Donald Trump doesn’t surround himself with “strong, intelligent women.”
“They’re intimidating to him. He doesn’t like to be challenged by them, and, you know, Nikki Haley will call him on his nonsense with reproductive rights and how he sees and treats and talks about women. I mean, he just can’t have her around. It wouldn’t work,” Cuban said on “The View” at the time.
He later apologized for the comments that were seen as dismissive and disrespectful to conservative women.
The billionaire was also roundly mocked in online conservative circles during the campaign — with many suggesting that his new black-rimmed glasses bring out a resemblance to liberal MSNBC talk show host Rachel Maddow.
