Ranking Mark Cuban’s Top 3 Decisions During His 23-Year Mavericks Ownership Tenure

Mark Cuban is set to sell his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks. Even though the team has only won one championship during his 23 years of ownership, their consistency can’t be ignored. Notably, the Mavs have the second-best win record since 2000 (when he purchased the team) only behind the San Antonio Spurs. Before 2000, the team was 25th in winning percentage. Also, before Cuban’s arrival, the Mavs had made the playoffs only six times in their first 20 seasons. After he took over, however, Dallas missed the postseason only four times in 23 years.  

One could argue that Cuban was lucky to have superstars Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash already on the roster when he arrived. That, however, does not undercut his role in the Mavs’ success, as he still had to make a lot of tough decisions. So, today, let us take a look at some of Cuban’s biggest decisions which helped the team to be successful.

#3 Mark Cuban’s use of technology 

With a background in technology, Mark Cuban was well aware it could help the Mavericks massively. He was one of the first few owners to promote the use of analytics for the betterment of the team. Notably, he was a key investor in the analytics firm Synergy Sports Technology which had clients in the NBA, MLB, and NCAA. In 2019, the firm was sold for an estimated $90 million.

Interestingly, Cuban was once again staying ahead of the curve. During an interview in 2020, the billionaire was asked about his picks for the most overrated technology in the world of sports. His answer was analytics. He also stated that AI is the most underrated. 

According to FOX Sports, he said, “Overrated is analytics. Underrated is artificial intelligence and its derivative. Because it’s become efficient now and because AI is going to kick (analytics’) a** all over the town. It’s going to be not gone because analytics becomes your AI.”

Cuban also recounted how analytics helped the Mavs outsmart their opponents after he purchased the team. He noted that as every team in the league started using analytics, it was hard to get an advantage over their opponents. After speaking highly about analytics in the past, he did not hesitate to move on. Cuban also talked about how AI can be used in the world of sports stating his intent to stay ahead of his opponents with the help of technology.

#2 Mark Cuban took a huge risk to get Luka Doncic

Getting Luka Doncic is one of the biggest decisions the Mavericks had to make in recent years. And of course, Mark Cuban played a huge role in the decision. Furthermore, the team’s performances in the previous season were also a huge reason behind their acquisition of Doncic. There was a lot of hype around Doncic during his time with Real Madrid in the Spanish league. Despite just being 17 years old, he dominated his opponents and clinched the MVP award. 

Also, he emboldened his credentials when he played against the OKC Thunder in the pre-season. With this, Doncic’s stock rose. When he declared for the 2018 NBA draft, the Mavericks had the 5th pick. However, it was clear that he would not fall to the 5th pick. As expected, he went early as the Atlanta Hawks selected Doncic as the third pick. But the Mavs were not ready to give up on their target.

With their fifth pick, they selected Trae Young and immediately traded him along with a protected 2019 first-round pick for Doncic. Young was considered a huge prospect as well. So, it was a massive gamble by the Mavs. The Hawks were happy with the offer and Luka joined Dallas. Even though Young has also been a great player, Doncic looks better now.

Cuban once opened up about the decision to go for Luka. During an episode of the All The Smoke podcast, he recounted, “And then the scouts were saying, ‘Look, there’s a 16-year-old, 17-year-old kid playing against OKC, and he’s fearless.’ And so then we started really paying attention, and it was interesting because our scouts really liked him, and our analytics guys loved him. The scouts said, ‘Okay, they had eight number one,’ and our numbers guys are like, ‘This is the only superstar in the draft.” 

READ MORE – Is Mark Cuban the Most Outspoken NBA Team Owner Ever?

Cuban was convinced and went for Doncic. The Slovenian hit the ground running and won the Rookie of the Year award. He soon established himself as a star and made the All-Star team in his second year. Also, last year, Doncic averaged over 32 points per game and was in the running for the MVP award. However, it was not an easy decision.

Not just the decision to trade Young and future first-round pick but also the decision to tank the previous year. Interestingly, Cuban openly discussed the decision to tank during the 2017-18 season. For which, he was fined a hefty amount. However, both decisions have worked out great so far.

#1 Mark Cuban and Dirk Nowitzki stood by each other

Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest player in Mavericks history. However, his time in Dallas was not always easy. Nowitzki and the Mavs shockingly lost the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat in 2006. After the loss, the team struggled in the playoffs and it looked like it was time to move on. Moving on looked like the best option for both the star and the team. Dirk did not want to retire without a ring. Even though he wanted to win it in Dallas and retire with the Mavs, things looked bleak in 2010.

After the 2006 Finals loss, the Mavs lost in the first round thrice in four years. In the one year they progressed, they were eliminated in the second. After the first-round loss in the 2009-10 season, Nowitzki was distraught. During the exit interview, he made it clear that he wanted to keep his options open. He was possibly hinting at opting out of his contract in the summer.

According to ESPN, he said, “I just have to keep my options open at this point, see what’s going on. I have to get over this disappointment for awhile. I’ll probably drown my sorrows for a bit and then I’ll start thinking about stuff like that in a week or two. As of now, I just want to keep my options, see what happens.”

Also, he noted that bringing an explosive player to the team like LeBron James or Dwyane Wade could help. Despite Nowitzki’s hint about moving, Cuban worked his magic, and he stayed. Interestingly, the team did not add an explosive star as per the German’s suggestion. Instead, they brought in center Tyson Chandler and it worked wonders.

WATCH THIS STORY – With Luka Doncic and Wife Jessica Olsson in Stands, Dirk Nowitzki Takes on ex-Teammate in an Entirely Different Set-up

One year after Dirk’s exit interview, the Mavericks found themselves in the Finals. Once again, against the Heat. However, this time, the Mavs were the underdogs with an aging squad. But Nowitzki and the team were ready, and they clinched the franchise’s first-ever title. Fast forward to 2019, Dirk retired from the league after spending his whole career with the Mavericks. Cuban recently admitted that he regrets not retaining Steve Nash in 2004. However, his decision to build the team around Nowitzki was huge and paid off.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.