Mark Cuban insists the NBA prevented him from leading the Mavericks after the sale

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban says the NBA has blocked his attempt to continue running basketball operations after selling the franchise. On a recent episode of Run Your Race, Cuban explained that he intends to stay involved in the team’s decision-making processbut league restrictions prevented it from being formally written into the sales contract.

“I thought that once I sold it, I would be able to continue to run the team,” Cuban said. “But the NBA wouldn’t let me put that document on file. And I didn’t want to have a labor contract. … So I was like, OK, we’ll just play it out and see what happens.”

Cuban, who sold a majority stake in the Mavericks last year to billionaire investor Miriam Adelson and her family, added that he wanted to avoid taking on an official job, preferring an informal role.

“It’s not like I stopped, because obviously I’m still involved. Here’s the summer league. I still love it, I still go to all the games, but I didn’t see it as a good situation,” Cuban added.

Although Cuban was removed from day-to-day basketball operations following the sale, he has recently re-emerged as a prominent figure in internal discussions, particularly following the firing of general manager Nick Harrison. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Cuban had been trying to stage a “palace coup” for months.

The failure of the Luka Doncic trade brought Marko Cuban back into the Mavericks’ inner circle

The shift reportedly began after the team traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster move that resulted in the Mavericks acquiring the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selecting Cooper Flagg. The aftermath of that agreement accelerated Cuban’s efforts to effect change within the organization.

“The dynamic between Dumont and Cuban never became contentious,” McMahon wrote. “They had known each other for years, creating a friendship that served as the basis for negotiations to sell the franchise.”

Cuban’s criticism of Harrison’s roster reportedly played a significant role in bolstering his credibility with new majority owner Adelson Dumont. Sources told ESPN that Cuban has been pushing for former Utah Jazz executive Dennis Lindsey — currently in the Detroit Pistons front office — to succeed Harrison.

Although Cuban does not have an official title, his influence is still significant. “He’s a consultant, not a decision maker,” a team source said. “But he’s at the table.”

From now on, The Mavericks have a 4–11 record and sit near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. they are should host the New York Knicks (8–5) on Wednesday night at 9:00 PM ET on ESPN.