“Everyone was hurt when Luka was traded, I let people down”
Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spoke about the significance of Luka Doncic's trade, which meant he left the Mavericks for the Lakers.
Former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has opened up about the lingering impact of Luka Dončić’s departure, months after the superstar guard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.
“Everyone was hurt when Luka was traded. I was just as much as anyone, because I felt like I let people down by not being there,” Cuban admitted on the DLLS Mavs podcast. “But what’s done is done.”
Cuban stepped away from basketball operations in December 2023 after selling a majority stake in the Mavericks to Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont. Nico Harrison, now serving as president of basketball operations and general manager, reports directly to Dumont on all roster matters. Cuban, however, still retains a 27 percent ownership share in the franchise.
Enter Cooper Flagg
The Mavericks’ future now rests heavily on Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, whose arrival has injected fresh optimism into Dallas.
Mark Cuban reacts to the Luka Doncic trade:
— DLLS Mavs (@DLLS_Mavs) August 26, 2025
"I felt like I let people down by not being there." pic.twitter.com/tyvO1nLPme
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“We landed Cooper. The basketball gods were looking down on us, and he is the real deal. He’s not even 19 years old,” Cuban said. “He could literally play for the Mavs for the next 25 years... If we build this right and start winning, I think people’s perspective will change.”
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