The NBA world is still in shock—Luka Doncic is no longer a Maverick. Feb 2 will go down in history as the day everything changed. But behind closed doors, the drama is even wilder. Mark Cuban, once the franchise’s mastermind, now plays a different role. But the real decision-maker? GM Nico Harrison. And when the blockbuster trade sent Doncic from Dallas to LA, Cuban didn’t have a front-row seat.

Thus, in a candid chat with YMH Studio, he finally revealed what went down. Turns out, it wasn’t Mark Cuban pulling the strings. The former Mavericks boss set the record straight with Dallas’ WFAA—he had nothing to do with the deal.

In the interview, the 65-year-old business tycoon revealed that he was in Florida when he got to know about the trade. However, the mega move had pushed his daughter into hiding. But why? You see, there could’ve been safety issues that had begun with Harrison soon after the trade. Mark Cuban narrated:

“My daughter was at a party and had to hide when it came out. I was at South by Southwest at the premiere of The Accountant 2—great movie, by the way—and someone started yelling, Fire Nico. It’s like the new Let’s Go Brandon.”

If this wasn’t enough, the cold response that Cuban received from Nico Harrison after trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers surely sent chills down the ex-boss’s spine. In his presence, he would’ve never made the move, that is for sure. But now that the deal is done, Cuban says, “In Nico we trust,” though a flicker of sadness lingers in his eyes.

Mark Cuban shares first instant reaction on hearing about the Luka Doncic trade from Nico Harrison

Mark Cuban may not be the Mavericks‘ main man anymore, but he’s still in the game. In December 2023, he handed over the majority stake to the Adelson and Dumont families. But he didn’t walk away. Holding onto 27%, he remains the team’s alternate governor, still keeping a close eye on basketball operations. He might not call all the shots, but make no mistake—Cuban’s presence still looms large in Dallas.

However, when it came to deciding Luka’s fate, Cuban had no say in it. Nico Harrison and Rob Pelinka had already shaken hands and were waiting for the right time to drop the news. “I was in Florida at a conference, and I got a text from our general manager,” Mark told YMH Studio. “I thought he was asking me what I thought, but I quickly realized he was telling me what happened, and I told him I didn’t agree with it for various reasons. But it wasn’t my decision to make.”

Well, Mark Cuban wasn’t even in the ‘war room’ when the Luka Doncic trade went down. He was in Florida, caught off guard by a text from GM Nico Harrison. At first, he thought it was a question. But no—it was a done deal. And Cuban? He didn’t agree with it. Not one bit. But this time, the decision wasn’t his to make.

Sadly, Mark Cuban built the Mavericks, but when it mattered most, he was just a spectator. The Luka Doncic trade wasn’t his call, and that stung. A text, a cold response, and a franchise-altering move—Cuban had to watch it all unfold from the sidelines. His daughter hid, fans raged, and Dallas changed forever. Now, all he can do is trust in Nico, even if a hint of regret lingers in his eyes.