While he’s a pop culture figure in his own right, sports fans have become well acquainted with Mark Cuban over the years. He purchased the majority stake of the Dallas Mavericks in 2000, and has been a fixture on the sidelines ever since. The Pennsylvanian hasn’t been shy about calling out referees or sharing his thoughts; having some incredible talents on his team and winning the 2011 NBA title didn’t hurt his profile either.
But now, it seems like Cuban’s basketball portfolio could be changing. Multiple outlets have reported that he could be selling a sizable stake in the Mavs, and that’s not the only change on the cards. The billionaire also said that he’s planning to leave Shark Tank behind after another season.
From afar, these moves could seem jarring. Who is Cuban if not the owner of the Mavs and the man we see on reality TV?
Well, buried within his recent appearance on the All the Smoke podcast, we might have some supporting context in the form of some memorable advice.
Let’s break things down.
Getty Images/Mike Stobe
Cuban Seems Poised to Sell Part of the Mavs
In the world of sports, owners can be an easy target when things go wrong. As the cliché says, you can’t fire an entire roster of players. Sometimes the coach isn’t an obvious problem. In that case, the ire goes toward the person signing the checks.
Cuban, however, isn’t quite in that situation. While it’s been a while since the Mavericks last lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the club is only one full season removed from a trip to the Western Conference Finals. And even if the 2022-23 campaign ended in disappointment, the presence of Luka Doncic and an 11-6 start to the 2023-24 campaign will paper over any open wounds.
But, even in that context, the owner could be making a move.
On Tuesday, November 28, The Athletic, ESPN and the Associated Press reported that Cuban was nearing a deal to sell a stake in the Mavericks. While the outlets use slightly different wording, reports suggest that a significant portion of the team will be changing hands.
With that being said, though, it seems like Cuban will retain control of Dallas’ basketball operations.
Newsweek reached out to Cuban via email for comment regarding the potential sale.
Cuban Once Received Advice About Aging
As mentioned above, potentially selling a piece of the Mavs isn’t the only move that could be in the works. During an appearance on All the Smoke, Cuban mentioned the prospect of leaving Shark Tank after an additional season.
He later confirmed that plan to The Hollywood Reporter.
“I just want to have a couple summers with my teens before they go off on their own,” Cuban told the publication in an email. “Nothing to do with the show. I love it. I love being on it. I love what [it] represents and how it motivates entrepreneurs around the world.”
And while it’s easy to take that as a one-off comment, it does dovetail rather nicely with another comment Cuban made on All the Smoke.
During the “Quick Hitters” section at the end of the podcast, the Mavs owner was asked for the best piece of advice he ever heard or received. “Be nice,” he responded. “And today’s the youngest you’re ever gonna be. Live like it. My dad would tell me that all the time.”
Does that sound a bit cliché? Sure, but when taken in combination with the comments about leaving Shark Tank to spend time with his family, it’s possible that Cuban is being guided by his father’s words.
And, if nothing else, his father’s advice provides a good perspective. Even if you’re a billionaire NBA owner with fame, fortune and countless other endeavors, no one can stop Father Time.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.