Stern booed by Dallas fans

DALLAS - NBA commissioner David Stern opened his lockout-delayed season hearing boos from Mavericks fans.

Stern was in Dallas for the NBA Finals rematch between the Mavericks and Miami Heat, and he was on the court for the start of the Mavs' banner-raising ceremony honoring their first title. The jeers came as soon as he started speaking, but turned into cheers after he congratulated team owner Mark Cuban.

Cuban's often contentious relationship with Stern could have been as much of a reason for the boos as the lockout, which pushed the opener from Nov. 1 to Christmas and cut the season by 16 games.

The booing Mavs fans may not have realized they had Stern to thank for getting Lamar Odom to Dallas. Odom was supposed to have been in the Lakers-Hornets deal for Chris Paul blocked by Stern as the owners' representative. Odom was so upset that the Lakers didn't want him that he asked to be traded.