Mark Cuban is still feeling the sting of Luka Doncic’s departure. During an appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show, the former Mavericks owner opened up about what it’s been like watching his former franchise star put together a historic season in another jersey.
“I’m happy for Luka, because he’s a great guy, he’s just a really special human being, his family is great,” Cuban said. “It’s painful. As a Mavs fan, and as somebody who, potentially, if I had done a better job of just defining my role in advance, might not have happened. It hurts me, I know it kills Mavs fans everywhere, but I’m happy for Luka.”
Mark Cuban was the man in charge in Dallas for 23 years. Under his leadership, the franchise enjoyed its most prosperous era to date, which included a championship run in 2011.
The Cuban era in Dallas was defined by a championship culture built on loyalty, trust, and hard work. Dirk Nowitzki served as the face of the franchise before passing the baton to Doncic, setting the example for over two decades.
But when Cuban sold his majority share of the team, he lost control of the front office, and they went to work undoing his legacy. While he claims he was supposed to help run the team, Cuban was pushed out and silenced right as they made the Luka trade.
It’s a decision that Cuban regrets to this day, as he claims the trade never would have happened under his watch. The move was primarily driven by GM Nico Harrison, who was motivated by concerns about Doncic’s defense and conditioning.
According to Nico, Anthony Davis was a better fit for the team as someone who could dominate both ends of the court. What Nico didn’t expect was for Davis’ tenure to be ravaged by injuries.
The star big man has only played five games this season, and his stats are down across the board. What’s worse is that the Mavericks are 2-7, sitting dead last in the West.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is having a career year for the Lakers, who are 7-2 so far. He’s averaging 40.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game on 50 percent shooting. He’s been one of the best players in the league this season after a summer of hard work to improve his conditioning.
To the horror of Mavericks fans, their worst nightmare is being played out before their very eyes. Their beloved star and former hero of the city is gone, and it’s unfolding exactly how they feared. It didn’t have to be this way for the Mavericks, and now Nico Harrison’s job could be on the line if the team doesn’t turn things around soon.
Mark Cuban will always be tied to Luka Doncic, and the sting of that separation won’t fade anytime soon. As Doncic continues to dominate in Los Angeles, Cuban is left wondering what might have been if things were handled differently. It’s a brutal lesson for the Mavericks and a reminder of how quickly the NBA can flip a franchise’s future.
