The Dallas Mavericks are tanking and Mark Cuban has made it public.

“I’m probably not supposed to say this, but, like, I just had dinner with a bunch of our guys the other night, and here we are, you know, we weren’t competing for the playoffs. I was like, ‘Look, losing is our best option,'” Cuban told NBA legend Julius Eving on the inaugural “House Call with Dr. J” podcast.

For those who have been watching the Dallas Mavericks the last month or so, Cuban’s words came as no surprise. Dallas clearly has pulled itself out of the playoff race and has opted to push forward with its youth movement for the final half of the season as the Mavericks aim to position themselves for a high pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The NBA has responded, fining Cuban in a statement released on Wednesday: 

“Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined $600,000 for public statements detrimental to the NBA, it was announced today by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

Cuban’s comments, which concerned his perspective on the team’s competitive success this season, were made during a podcast that posted on Feb. 18.”