DALLAS -- Mark Cuban has a deep affection for New York City, and he showed it on Thursday.

Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner, made a $1 million donation to the World Trade Center relief effort, the Dallas Morning News reported on Friday.

"It was just the right thing to do," Cuban told the Morning News on Thursday night. "There was no other reason."

Cuban attempted to make the donation anonymously, with Mayor Ron Kirk's office revealing him only as a "private benefactor." Cuban confirmed later Thursday that he was behind the gift. He made the donation on behalf of the city of Dallas.

"This represents the spirit of America," Kirk said Thursday night. "It speaks volumes about the great love of the people of Texas."

"It is earmarked only for the families of firemen and police officers and emergency workers who lost their lives in serving their country," Cuban said in an e-mail to the Morning News on Thursday night.

Cuban, who assumed operating control of the Mavericks on Jan. 3, 2000, has an apartment in Manhattan near Central Park.