Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had choice words to say about the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) system in the United States.

The AAU basketball network has been a mainstay for decades in the country, grooming talented young athletes to play in an organized fashion outside of high school teams. AAU squads often see top recruits for colleges play in tournaments around the country and develop connections between scouts and coaches.

Article Continues Below
More Dallas Mavericks News
LeBron James number 23 photoshopped in Mavericks jersey
Mavericks’ trade proposal for LeBron James: Could Dallas work with Lakers again?Bailey Bassett ·
Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum (0) shoots for three during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
Mavericks rumors: Dallas looking to make trade in order to bring back key guardMalik Brown ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center.
NBA rumors: Lakers insider reveals ‘buzz’ for LeBron James trade to MavericksTroy Finnegan ·
Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Brooklyn Nets at the American Airlines Center.
Mavericks rumors: The contract D’Angelo Russell is expected to signTroy Finnegan ·
Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the second half at the American Airlines Center.
Mavericks rumors: The Chris Paul reason D’Angelo Russell is such a priorityJackson Stone ·
Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the second half at the American Airlines Center.
Mavericks rumors: Dallas the ‘overwhelming favorite’ to sign D’Angelo RussellPreston Byers ·

“We've got to replace AAU. I think that's a big cause of the consternation and problems that we face,” the Mavs boss told Michael Kaskey-Blomain of CBS Sports. “I'm a big fan of starting to do academies, where we take kids who are in the Dallas area and develop them so that they're performing not just on the court, but also doing well in school and understanding that basketball IQ isn't just about what you do on the court, it's about how prepared you are for life, because so few are going to make it. So I think there's a lot of obligations for the teams and the NBA, but a big part of it is going to be doing our work when the kids are 13, 14, 15 years old in terms of being realistic about their chances and what it takes.”

Mark Cuban isn't the first high-profile individual in the NBA who's critical of AAU. Former Los Angeles Lakers legend and five-time champion Kobe Bryant called the organization “horrible,” saying it “doesn't teach kids how to play the game.” Bryant, who grew up in Italy where his father played professionally, touted how Europeans teach basketball to kids.

In recent years, AAU basketball has come under scrutiny due to conflicts of interest in recruiting and potentially disrupting amateurism.