Mark Cuban recently called out the NBA’s “petty” away game ban involving his seats behind the Dallas Mavericks’ bench during away games. Mark Cuban, 66, has been a visible, vocal public figure at Mavericks games since purchasing a majority stake for $285 million from Ross Perot Jr., a real estate developer known for Alliance, an inland port near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, on January 4, 2000.
However, Cuban sold the 73% majority stake to Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont’s families. Adelson, 79, owns the Las Vegas Sands, a casino and resort company with corporate headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dumont, 49, is the chief financial officer of the Las Vegas Sands and Adelson’s son-in-law. As a result, Cuban was banned from sitting behind the Mavericks’ bench. Here’s everything you need to know.
Mark Cuban Calls Out the NBA
Mark Cuban has been sitting behind the Dallas Mavericks’ bench at away games over the years, despite the action being against the NBA’s rules. The NBA appeared to ban Cuban from sitting behind the Mavericks’ bench at away games, as Cuban’s no longer the majority owner of the Mavericks. Cuban sold his majority stake to the Adelson and Dumont families for $3.5 billion in December 2023.
As Cuban nears one year since selling his majority stake, NBA insider Marc Stein followed up with Cuban in a recent podcast episode for “The Stein Line.” Mark Cuban’s pain points included his ban, current role, and vice versa. Cuban told Stein on “The Stein Line,” The NBA got really, really, really petty and said that I can’t sit behind the bench anymore.”
Cuban’s pain point seemed to be more than just banning the seats at the away games themselves. Although the ban on the seats is an insult, Cuban sounded like the confirmation of his inability to be involved in the Mavericks’ day-to-day operations wasn’t what he expected. At the time of the majority stake sale, Cuban said he would remain in charge of the team’s basketball operations, despite facing criticism for the role over the years.
Cuban’s Former Dallas Mavericks Ownership
Mark Cuban sometimes regrets selling the majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks. Cuban maintained control of the Mavericks’ basketball operations, but the NBA has placed plenty of restrictions on him now that he’s a minority owner of the team with a 27% stake. The NBA even banned him from sitting behind the team’s bench at away games, despite him doing so over the years.
Cuban recently called out the NBA in a recent episode of “The Stein Line” podcast hosted by Marc Stein. However, Cuban mentioned that he felt at peace with his decision to sell the majority stake in the team, but he had moments where he regretted doing so. Cuban told Stein on “The Stein Line,” The only time I feel any regret is when the NBA pisses me off … Maybe it would be different if we were losing and things weren’t going well, but things are going well. It’s nothing specific to the Mavs. I can’t go into NBA meetings anymore and give them —- for being petty.”
Cuban’s Current Role With Dallas
Mark Cuban’s current role with the Dallas Mavericks seemed to decrease this past year. Cuban said at the time of the majority stake sale he would remain in charge of the Mavericks’ basketball operations, but things seem mostly in General Manager Nico Harrison’s hands. Cuban told Stein on “The Stein Line,” I’m not there making day-to-day decisions. That’s all Nico [Harrison]. That’s just the way it’s evolved … Honestly … is it exactly the way I expected it to be? No. But we’re winning and things are going well. I’m fine with it.”
Cuban ultimately admitted that being a minority owner for the Mavericks was different from what he envisioned. However, Cuban appears to maintain positive vibes as the team continues to be a force in a competitive Western Conference after advancing to the 2024 NBA Finals. The team’s fans might say that the team is underperforming so far this season, but that’s arguably a sign of a more competitive Western Conference.
