Mark Cuban distanced himself from the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, saying he had no role in the decision.
“If I had any influence, the Luka Doncic trade wouldn’t happen. I was just as dumbfounded as everybody else,” Cuban said, according to Kirk Henderson. He added that after selling the Dallas Mavericks, new owner Patrick Dumont placed full trust in general manager Nico Harrison.
Doncic was traded to Los Angeles on February 2 in a deal that also sent Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Lakers. In return, Dallas received Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. The Mavericks also sent Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round pick to the Utah Jazz, who acquired an additional 2025 second-rounder from Dallas.
The trade was one of the most shocking in NBA history, marking the first time two active All-NBA players were swapped midseason. The move was widely criticized, especially since Doncic had reportedly bought a $15 million house in Dallas just a week before being dealt.
Before the trade, Doncic averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 35.7 minutes per game. Since joining the Lakers, he has posted 26.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 8 assists in 34.4 minutes per contest.
The Lakers (43-26) currently sit third in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks (34-37) have struggled and rank 11th. Dallas also lost Davis after his debut and saw Kyrie Irving suffer a season-ending ACL tear, further complicating their playoff hopes.
Cuban sold a majority stake in the Mavericks on December 27, 2023, with casino moguls Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont acquiring 69% of the franchise for nearly $3.9 billion. Cuban retained 27% ownership but no longer has final say over basketball decisions. Dumont replaced him as the team’s governor on the NBA Board of Governors.
The Mavericks’ decision to trade their franchise cornerstone has drawn widespread scrutiny, with Cuban making it clear he had no say in the matter.
