In 2023, Mark Cuban left the Dallas Mavericks, selling the franchise for roughly $3.5 billion, ending a two-decade-long tenure in which he became synonymous with the team’s identity.
In the nearly two years since Mark Cuban stepped away as the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, the billionaire admits the decision continues to weigh on him.
Cuban‘s departure from the team came with financial security, yet the events that followed, including the blockbuster trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, left him facing unexpected remorse.
While he retained a 27% stake, many assumed Cuban would still exert influence over basketball operations. Those expectations were quickly dashed when the NBA reportedly barred any control clause in the sale agreement, leaving the team’s future direction uncertain.
When the Mavericks came into new management led by Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont, fans experienced tension and uncertainty.
A blockbuster trade in February sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, igniting widespread outrage, including protests outside the arena and persistent speculation that the team could eventually leave Dallas.
Now, in an unusual public statement, Cuban directly addressed the controversy and expressed regret over how events unfolded.
Speaking candidly on the DLLS Mavs Podcast, Cuban detailed the personal and professional factors that influenced his decision to sell the team.
“I’m sorry, I had to do what is best for my life and my family,” he told listeners. “You think I was going to live till 137 and just run the Mavs forever? You know, Father Time is undefeated, and so something was going to happen at some point, no matter what, and I just wanted to do it on my terms.”
Cuban‘s net worth, estimated at $6 billion by Forbes, meant he was financially secure long before selling his controlling stake, which was valued at $3.5 billion in 2023.
While fans were quick to criticize his explanation on social media, Cuban‘s concern appears rooted in balancing his family life with the demands of managing an NBA franchise.
Reflection on ownership and strategy
Cuban also expressed regret over the method by which he sold the team, suggesting a public auction could have yielded higher returns. “I don’t regret selling the team, I regret how I did it,” he said.
“Would I still sell the team? Yes, for all the same reasons I’ve said 100 times. Would I do it the same way? Absolutely not. I would have put it out to bid, but I didn’t so it doesn’t matter.”
The Luka Doncic trade, while emblematic, is only part of a broader pattern of decisions that have left the Mavericks community unsettled.
From abrupt changes in front-office personnel to perceived scaling back of community engagement, fans are questioning whether the team under new ownership will ever reflect the same spirit that made Cuban‘s Mavericks beloved across Dallas.
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