Mark Cuban says he will always ‘go crazy’ for Mavericks despite stock sale as he paves Dallas’ path to NBA Finals

DALLAS Mavericks co-owner Mark Cuban knows a thing or two about success.

The Pennsylvania-born entrepreneur is worth more than $5 billion and has spent more than a decade telling budding entrepreneurs on Shark Tank whether or not their business ideas are promising — and why.

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He would probably give the perfect elevator speech even with his eyes blindfolded and his hands tied.

It’s no surprise that when asked what propelled his Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, the 65-year-old Cuban came up with a very precise formula.

“Luka Doncic. Luka Doncic. And then Kyrie Irving,” he told The US Sun at TD Garden before Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

“And then a bunch of really good guys who love playing together and playing hard.”

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were considered one of the highest scoring defense duos in NBA history – and for a reason.

Entering the NBA Finals – where Dallas would start down 2-0 – the Mavericks scored 81 points per game with both guards on the court during the playoffs.

No other team that made it past the first two rounds of the postseason had a duo whose presence competed with better scoring numbers.

But after giving flowers to the two Mavs All-Stars, Cuban — who sold a majority stake in the franchise during the 2023-24 NBA season — puts emphasis on the “playing hard” aspect of the team.

“There’s a lot of talent in this league, but not everyone accepts the roles and how hard you have to play,” he says.

“There’s no one out there [on the Mavericks roster] it doesn’t just show everything on the court. And that makes a big difference.”

The Mavericks wouldn’t have become a championship contender without general manager Nico Harrison’s front office management masterclass over the past 16 months.

Harrison won the 2023 Irving sweepstakes, acquiring one of the NBA’s most skilled players of all time in Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and a draft pick package including just one first-rounder.

Having found a perfect co-star for Doncic, the former longtime Nike executive added size and athleticism to the roster, allowing the Mavs to dominate their opponents on the way to the Finals.

He drafted center Dereck Lively II in the first round of the NBA draft, who would become a key piece in the playoffs.

And during the 2023-24 season, Harrison further bolstered Dallas’ frontcourt by trading for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, who quickly jumped into the team’s starting lineup.

“It’s a team effort, right?” says Cuban.

“And Nico has been great, putting all the pieces together and closing the deals.

“I’m so excited for him and proud of him.”

In December, nearly 14 years after he first invested in the Mavericks, Cuban sold a majority stake in the team to casino magnate Miriam Adelson and her family.

He maintained approximately 27% ownership of the franchise, as well as control of basketball operations.

But in a sign that the businessman has taken a step back, the 2024 Western Conference Finals trophy was hoisted for the first time by Adelson’s son-in-law and new team governor, Patrick Dumont, rather than Cuban.

However, Cuban says changes within the ownership group didn’t make Dallas’ Finals appearance any different than when the Mavs won it all in 2011.

“If I didn’t own a single share, I would still be the biggest Mavs fan going crazy,” he said.

“I was a huge Mavs fan before I bought the team, so this doesn’t change anything for me.”

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