Mark Cuban has always been outspoken, so it was only a matter of time before details about Luka Dončić’s trade surfaced.
The former Dallas Mavericks owner isn’t holding back, calling out the NBA, the Mavericks’ new owners, and the front office as he clears his name.
Mark Cuban Shines Light on Broken Promises by NBA, Mavericks
Nearly two months after Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the fallout continues. His departure followed injury struggles and declining form for the Mavericks, leaving fans frustrated.
Cuban sold his majority stake in the Mavs to the Adelson family in 2023 for more than $3 billion. However, it was expected that the former “Shark Tank” panel member would run the franchise’s day-to-day operations as he had been for several years.
However, in a spat with a fan on Facebook, Cuban clarified that his hands are clean from the mess in Dallas. However, Cuban has since deleted his comments.
“Actually I fully expected to run basketball,” he wrote on Facebook. “The nba wouldn’t let me put it in the contract. They took it out. Just like they won’t let the Celtics put it in I thought they [the Adelsons] would stick to their word because they didn’t know the first thing about running a team. Someone obviously changed their mind.”
Cuban continued further, discussing other subjects like the polarization of NBA fandom and how it became harder for him to engage in discourse with fans as it became “more fun for people to complain than to enjoy the Mavs or the nba.”
Meanwhile, the Mavericks have bounced back since Anthony Davis returned to the court, winning both games he appeared in since his return on March 24. With a 36-38 record, they currently sit at No. 10 in the Western Conference, clinging to the final play-in tournament spot. They face the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Saturday, March 29.
Cuban Clarifies His Stance on Luka Dončić’s Trade
Cuban had previously criticized the Mavs’ front office for being shortchanged by the Lakers in the Dončić trade. However, in a recent appearance on the “Your Mom’s House” podcast, the former owner highlighted his take on the entire trade itself.
“If I had any influence, the trade wouldn’t happen,” he said. “I was just as dumbfounded as everybody else. After I sold the Mavericks, the new owner, Patrick Dumont, decided that ‘OK, in Nico [Harrison, Mavericks general manager,] we trust.’ So, here we are.”
Dončić, meanwhile, has been thriving in Los Angeles, breaking records and proving his value. The Lakers, currently fourth in the Western Conference, look poised for a strong playoff push.