DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban might mess up his reputation as the chief nemesis for outgoing NBA commissioner David Stern.

Cuban's fine total from the league office for various infractions during his 14-year ownership tenure have reached seven figures, and he has publicly criticized the commissioner on several occasions. However, Cuban is speaking glowingly of Stern leading up to the commissioner's Feb. 1 retirement after 30 years on the job.

"I love David," Cuban said during a Tuesday interview on NBA TV. "I mean, David and I have banged heads a couple times, [but] the truth be told, David Stern made me. Nobody knew who Mark Cuban was until he started fining the hell out of me and sent me to work at Dairy Queen. So he made my job of selling tickets a lot easier."