Cuban admits regret over how he sold the team: If I were still in charge, Doncic would still be a Maverick.

On August 27th Beijing time, former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who originally drafted Doncic and once vowed never to trade him, has now spoken multiple times about the deal. Recently, on a podcast, Cuban made one of his most candid reflections yet.

“I’m sorry, but I had to do what was best for my life and family,” Cuban said. “Do you think I’m going to live to 137 and run the Mavericks forever? Time doesn’t wait, and some things eventually happen. I just wanted to act according to my own wishes.”

In December 2023, Cuban sold a 72.3% majority stake in the Mavericks for $3.5 billion to Miriam Adelson and her family, with Patrick Dumont taking over team management. Although Cuban still holds 27% ownership, he no longer has influence over basketball operations, which are currently managed by GM Nico Harrison.

It was this sale that created the conditions for the trade of Doncic—Cuban insists that if he were still in control, he would never have allowed it to happen.

“If I were still calling the shots, Doncic would still be a Maverick,” Cuban stated bluntly.

To Dallas fans, Doncic is more than just a star player; he’s the team’s “torchbearer”—his rookie season coincided with Dirk Nowitzki’s final year, and they played together. Trading Doncic was not only a basketball decision but also a break in the team’s cultural continuity.

Cuban also acknowledged how deeply the trade hurt the fanbase.

“I understand the emotional bond between fans and Doncic, which is why there was such strong opposition at the time—and even now, the doubts haven’t ceased.”

While Cuban defended his decision to sell the team, he admitted he made a mistake in how he handled the sale. “I don’t regret selling the team; I regret how I sold it,” he said. “I should have put the team up for public bidding.”

Now, Cuban has begun to embrace the Mavericks’ new cornerstone, Cooper Flagg, calling the top draft pick “a genuine talent.” But he also made it clear that even if he had the chance to pick Flagg, he would never have used that as a reason to trade Doncic if he were still running the team.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks, led by Flagg, Davis, and Kyrie Irving, are preparing to build a new arena and entertainment district—part of the Adelson family’s long-term plan for the franchise.