Mavericks star Luka Doncic is arguably the best player in the 2024 NBA Finals. But the most recognizable person in the series is Mark Cuban.
The businessman was the longtime principal owner and current minority of the Dallas Mavericks. After purchasing a majority stake of the franchise back in 2000, he helped lead them win the NBA championship in 2011.
But then in November 2023, seemingly out of nowhere, fans learned that Cuban was beginning to sell a majority stake of the team to Las Vegas Sands casino owner Miriam Adelson and her son-in-law Patrick Dumont. He also announced that he would no longer co-host Shark Tank on NBC.
The league later approved the sale for 73 percent of the controlling asset. This gave the family majority ownership and the right to serve as governors for the franchise.
Here is what we wrote at the time the surprising deal was first reported:
This is “one of the most unique setups” in league history because Cuban will retain his shares in the organization and he will also maintain “full control and final say” when it comes to basketball operations.
Cuban still owns 27 percent of the Mavericks and oversees basketball operations for the organization.
Despite not having the same financial control, you will see still him around at Dallas games. He has reiterated that he remains fully on-board with this NBA team (via PEOPLE):
“I’m still actively involved in the basketball side,” he says. “So yeah, I’m all in on the Mavs still. You’ll see me at games yelling and screaming at the refs, yelling and screaming for the Mavs. So that hasn’t changed at all.”
While he is still found sitting by the court and is undeniably still the face of the franchise, he no longer has the role as the controlling governor.
The first season of this new experience is a success, though, as Dallas won the Western Conference Finals and will have a chance to take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
