Longtime Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban revealed that he was quietly pushed out of basketball operations following the team’s sale, culminating in the franchise’s most controversial move in years: the trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Speaking candidly on The All-In Podcast, Cuban said:
“There were some things that happened internally where the person who traded Luka didn’t want me there… So, they won, I lost”.
Mark Cuban revealed that he was supposed to continue running the Mavericks after selling the team, but something happened internally
“The person who traded Luka didn’t want me there.” 👀
(🎥 @theallinpod / h/t @KevinGraySports )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 10, 2025
Cuban sold a majority stake in the Mavericks to the Adelson and Dumont families in late 2023 for $3.5 billion, with the understanding that he would retain control over basketball decisions. But as the team surged to the 2024 NBA Finals, Cuban chose to step back, believing the new regime had momentum.
“When I did the deal, the presumption was that I would still be running basketball,” Cuban explained. “We tried to put it in the contract, but the NBA said the governor is the governor, and they make all final decisions”.
That “governor” is Patrick Dumont, son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, who now holds the final say on team decisions. It was under Dumont’s leadership, and GM Nico Harrison’s execution, that Dončić was traded to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, a move that blindsided fans and insiders alike.
Cuban’s comments suggest a deeper internal conflict. While he still owns a minority stake in the team, his influence has waned. The decision to trade Dončić, arguably the most beloved Maverick since Dirk Nowitzki, was made without his input.
“I was involved, and then we went on this run where we went to the Finals… I didn’t want to get in the way. That was a mistake,” Cuban admitted.
The fallout has been intense. Mavericks fans have turned their ire toward Harrison and Dumont, questioning how a generational talent like Dončić could be deemed expendable.
This isn’t just about control, it’s about legacy. Cuban bought the Mavericks in 2000 and transformed the franchise into a perennial contender, culminating in the 2011 championship. His bond with the team and its fans runs deep. Being sidelined during one of the most consequential decisions in franchise history cuts deeper than any business deal.
Yet, Cuban remains loyal:
“That’s in the past. I’m still hardcore Mavs, MFFL,” he said, referencing the team’s slogan “Mavs Fan For Life”.
As the Mavericks enter a new era, the absence of Cuban’s voice in the room is palpable. Whether the Dončić trade proves visionary or disastrous, it marks a turning point, not just for the team, but for the man who helped define it.
