The NBA office was not pleased.

Commissioner David Stern, who has fined Mr. Cuban more than $1 million for criticizing officiating, disputed the notion that any publicity is good publicity.

"Any suggestion that there will be some economic or promotional benefit to the NBA arising from the charge pending against Kobe Bryant is both misinformed and unseemly," Mr. Stern said in a statement. "That idea does not reflect the views of the NBA, NBA owners generally or others associated with our sport."

An NBA spokesman said he wasn't aware of any pending disciplinary action against Mr. Cuban for the comments.

In an e-mail to The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday, Mr. Cuban said his comments were an observation of society. He added that he never said the NBA was trying to capitalize on the case and that he considered the charges serious.