When Mark Cuban decided to sell the Dallas Mavericks, many expected that he would continue to play a central role in the team’s basketball operations for the foreseeable future.
However, by the time the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals in June, it was clear that the tech mogul’s role had changed significantly. Nico Harrison, the general manager hired in 2021, was now reporting directly to the new owner, Patrick Dumont, which marked a shift from the days when Cuban was directly in charge.
Despite this change in leadership structure, the business tycoon insisted that his involvement has remained relatively consistent.
“It’s not a whole lot different than right before I sold the team,” Cuban explained. “Nico was doing pretty much everything and I would give him my thoughts and my feedback – just like I do now.”
While he may not be involved in the everyday decision-making, the billionaire investor still plays an important role by offering advice and sharing his opinions with Harrison.
Reflecting on the shift in his role, Cuban admitted that the situation has evolved in ways he didn’t initially expect.
“You’re right – I’m not there making day-to-day decisions. That’s all Nico. That’s just the way it’s evolved. Honestly … is it exactly the way I expected it to be? No. But we’re winning and things are going well. I’m fine with it.”
His statement reveals a sense of contentment with the direction the team has taken under Harrison’s leadership, despite the changes in Cuban’s level of involvement.
The decision to hire Nico Harrison to replace Donnie Nelson in 2021 marked a significant change in the Mavericks’ hierarchy. Cuban described his adjustment to the new setup as a mix of emotions, acknowledging both the challenges and the positives.
“It’s been up and down,” he said. “I’ve had moments of both – times where I was like, ‘OK, this is what we need to do, but I’m not the boss.’ And then there have been other times where I’m like: ‘I’m glad I’m not the boss.'”
This balance of emotions highlights the complexity of letting go of control after years of being deeply involved in the team’s operations.
Though Cuban is no longer responsible for the day-to-day decisions, he remains supportive of the Mavericks’ management and is pleased with their performance. However, he noted that his only regret comes when the NBA frustrates him.
“The only time I feel any regret is when the NBA pisses me off. Maybe it would be different if we were losing and things weren’t going well, but things are going well. It’s nothing specific to the Mavs. I can’t go into NBA meetings anymore and give them shit for being petty.”
Mark Cuban's Role With Mavericks Not Exactly What He Expected When He Sold Majority Stake https://t.co/EycviHbAQj
— RealGM (@RealGM) November 25, 2024
