Mark Cuban has never been shy about speaking his mind, but when it comes to Luka Doncic’s shocking departure from the Dallas Mavericks, even he admits the wound still stings. Appearing on the DLLS Mavericks podcast, Cuban reflected on how fans reacted to the blockbuster deal that sent the franchise cornerstone to Los Angeles.
“I mean, I heard that after Steve Nash. I heard that when we brought in Wang Zhizhi from China. I’ve heard that when players have done things that are controversial.”
“They called it fan is short for fanatic, right? And that passion is a good thing. And those things dissipate with time. We all were hurt when Luka got traded, me as much as anyone, because I felt like I let people down by not being there. But what’s done is done.”
“And we got Cooper. You know, the basketball gods were looking down on us and Coop’s the real deal. He’s not even 19 years old. I mean, he could literally, depending on science, play for the Mavs for 25 years. I’m guessing if we do well and win, those sentiments will change.”
For Cuban, the sting of losing Doncic goes beyond basketball. This is the same owner who once famously said he’d rather divorce his wife than trade Luka. When he sold a majority stake in the Mavericks to the Adelson family in late 2023, it was reported that Cuban would still oversee basketball operations.
Insiders later clarified that this wasn’t the case, and when the time came to make franchise-altering decisions, Cuban no longer held the same influence.
The Luka trade remains one of the most polarizing moments in recent NBA history. Mavericks fans, who had embraced Doncic as the successor to Dirk Nowitzki, were blindsided. Cuban has acknowledged that he still feels that pain, at least until he checks his net worth of $5.7 billion.
The comment revealed how much the trade weighed on him, regardless of his financial standing.
Still, Cuban has shown public confidence in GM Nico Harrison, even in the aftermath of the decision. He understands that building a winning team requires tough moves, and Dallas has already begun charting a new course.
That new course revolves around Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. Davis remains a dominant two-way force when healthy, while Irving is targeting a return from ACL surgery around the All-Star break. Add in Flagg and a strong supporting cast, and the Mavericks may have the makings of a contender sooner than expected.
The only obstacle is health. Davis has struggled with injuries throughout his career, and Kyrie’s recovery will be closely monitored. If the roster stays intact, though, Dallas could contend from the start of the 2025–26 season.
For Cuban, the Luka trade may always carry regret, but he hopes the Mavericks’ next era will ease the pain.
