Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had a candid confession to make as a guest of the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday, admitting that his team tried to do its best job at losing games after they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

“Once we were eliminated from the playoffs we did everything possible to lose games,” Cuban said.

The Mavs were out of playoff reach on Apr. 1, going 2-5 in their last seven games of the season. Cuban mentioned that despite throwing younger guys to the wolves, they were trying their hardest to win games, and there was nothing done to prevent that from happening.

“Once a guy walks on the court, they're going to play their heart out,” Cuban said. “Particularly the young guys because they have something to prove. So, Dorian Finney-Smith, Yogi Ferrell, there's nothing you could do or say to them to say ‘Don't play hard' or ‘Try to lose this game.'”

“That wouldn't be right and I don't think any NBA team would do that. But when you have Salah Mejri shooting threes?” Cuban added, laughing.

The 7-foot-2 center took and made an unforeseen three-point attempt down the stretch of a season-ending loss to the Memphis Grizzlies — adding to the obvious factor of a tanking strategy.

Cuban's Mavericks have been a part of the playoffs for many seasons and this one was destined to fall short of them from the start of it.

Him admitting to this strategy only shows that owners and general managers will compete even in getting one spot ahead of another team in the NBA Draft, even if that means losing games in the process.

Dallas came out of the NBA Draft Lottery with the rights to the ninth overall pick.