Mark Cuban has opened up about a lingering regret following his high-profile exit from the Dallas Mavericks, stressing the issue was not selling the franchise, but who ultimately assumed control after the deal was finalized.
Speaking on the Intersections podcast, Cuban discussed the 2023 agreement that handed majority ownership to Miriam Adelson and her family, describing the decision as deliberate, even if the long-term outcome left him uneasy about the team’s trajectory.
“I don’t regret selling, I regret who I sold to. Yeah, yeah, I made a lot of mistakes in the process and I’ll leave it at that,” Cuban said, offering a measured reflection that hinted at deeper dissatisfaction with how events unfolded afterward.
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Cuban explained that nearly twenty years of ownership became draining, with the emotional swings of each game and constant public scrutiny compounding pressure, making the role increasingly difficult to sustain over time.
“It’s a big emotional commitment, right,” Cuban added. “You hear the passion and everything – now imagine going up and down like that every single game. That’s hard.”
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The divide widened following the trade of franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic, a move Cuban said blindsided him, as he described a late-night call that revealed a decision he strongly believed should never have been approved.
Cuban said he pushed back immediately after learning details of the move, emphasizing that he no longer had authority to intervene despite viewing the situation as a major error that could impact the franchise long term.
“I was like, ‘What did we trade him for?’ And he told me – and no disrespect to Anthony Davis – but I’m like, ‘He’s hurt a lot.’
“I called the new owner and he started telling me stuff that wasn’t true that he had been told as the reason why he approved it and I’m like, that’s not true – um, this is a mistake but nothing I can do.”
The Mavericks continue to struggle on the court, highlighted by a heavy loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the team’s form has sharply declined in recent weeks.
Dallas has now fallen out of playoff contention with a 24-51 record, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
The defeat extended a prolonged home losing streak, underlining deeper performance issues across the roster.
Despite individual efforts, the team has failed to remain competitive, and the ongoing slide has intensified scrutiny around roster decisions and the franchise’s overall direction.
