February 2, 2025. A date that will forever sting for Dallas Mavericks fans. The NBA world was left in disbelief when the franchise’s generational star, Luka Dončić, was suddenly shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers, which was a move no one thought was possible.
While the trade sent shockwaves across the league, it has now resurfaced in headlines months later as former Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban finally opened up about bout his feelings regarding the blockbuster deal that changed everything.
What was Mark Cuban’s Message Regarding the Trade?
In the recent episode of the “DLLS Mavs Podcast”, Cuban, who was a guest on the show, reflected on the chaos that followed the Dončić trade. He admitted, with brutal honesty, that he felt he “let people down” by not being around when the organization made the decision.
“Fan is short for fanatic, right? That passion is a good thing, and those things dissipate with time. We all were hurt when Luka got traded, me as much as anyone, because I felt like I let people down by not being there,” said Cuban during the podcast.
The trade did more than just rattle the fanbase; it devastated it. Mavericks supporters responded in anger, with chants of “Fire Nico Harrison” erupting at Dallas games and even echoing outside the American Airlines Center.
And yet, Dončić’s numbers remained as elite as ever after joining the Lakers. With Mavericks, he averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. In Los Angeles, his production hardly dipped as he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per contest.
The key difference?
He led the Lakers to a 50–32 record and secured a playoff berth, thus proving that he was the piece that could elevate a team from good to great. Meanwhile, the Mavericks stumbled through the season and eventually crashed out in the Play-In Tournament.
The Mavericks had a 70% chance of making the playoffs prior to making the Luka-AD trade.
Dallas has now been eliminated from playoff contention over two months later.
(via ESPN Analytics) pic.twitter.com/fzg3Ata6Kn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 19, 2025
Still, Cuban isn’t dwelling on regret. He emphasized that while the past cannot be changed, the focus must shift to the future. According to him, the organization is betting big on rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, who could emerge as the next cornerstone of the Mavericks’ rebuild.
“But what’s done is done. We got Cooper. The Basketball Gods were looking down on us, and Coop’s the real deal. He’s not even 19 years old. He could literally, depending on science, play for the Mavs for 25 years. I’m guessing if we do well and win, those sentiments will change,” added Cuban during the podcast.
Flagg’s résumé is already impressive. In his lone year at Duke, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while powering the Blue Devils to the Final Four before falling to Houston.
Moreover, his potential was on full display during the 2025 NBA Summer League. Flagg averaged 20.5 points across two games, but it was his second outing that made headlines as he dropped 31 points in 31 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs and left everyone in awe.
No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg dropped 31 points… and was a HIGHLIGHT REEL in his 2nd game of Vegas action 🔥💥📽️ pic.twitter.com/wafUeM1lxx
— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2025
As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on how this rebuilt Mavericks team performs. Can Flagg help fill the massive void left by Dončić’s departure? Will Cuban’s regrets transform into renewed determination to build a championship contender? Only time will.
