NBA fines Mark Cuban $50,000 for twitter comments

• Cuban was upset over some calls in the Mavericks' losses to Miami and New Orleans
• He tweeted that he has been trying to fix the officiating for 13 years and has 'failed miserably'
• Cuban has racked up more than $2 million in fines since he became Mavericks owner

The NBA fined Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $50,000 for his Twitter comments about league officiating, NBA spokesman Tim Frank told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday.

After the Mavericks' 99-96 home loss to the New Orleans Hornets Saturday, Cuban – just back from a vacation at his Cayman Islands home – tweeted, "Im sorry NBA fans. Ive tried for 13 years to fix the officiating in this league and I have failed miserably. Any Suggestions ? I need help."

After losing to the Hornets, Cuban met referee Bill Kennedy at halfcourt and tried to make his point. It is unclear what bothered Cuban about the officiating in that game. The Mavericks were called for 20 fouls, the Hornets 10, and Dallas shot 16 free throws to the Hornets' 13.

Cuban was also unhappy about the officiating after Dallas' loss to the Miami Heat on Jan. 2, when referees awarded an out-of-bounds ball to the Heat. Cuban thought the ball went out of bounds off Heat guard Dwyane Wade.

It was Cuban's first fine since February, when the league docked him $75,000 for criticizing officials after a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Cuban has racked up nearly $2 million in NBA fines since buying the Mavericks in 2000.