Mark Cuban is not who we thought he was going to be

This earlier week has been the dried-out cherry on top rated of an expired whipped cream sundae of a 2022-23 time for the Dallas Mavericks. They entered it 1 game out of the participate in-in match a shade beneath two months following trading for Kyrie Irving. It would be effortless to blame him for Mavericks’ tumble, but the descent was in progress very long ahead of his arrival. Dallas’ struggles begin at the best with the team operator Mark Cuban who entered the NBA pissing off the institution and bringing the strength of youth and change.

On Wednesday, Cuban gave unplanned media availability to give his facet on how agreement extension talks with present-day increasing New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson fell via very last period. He denied what Brunson instructed Turner Sports’ Chris Haynes, which was that all those in the guard’s camp believe that he would have acknowledged a four-year, $55.5 million extension.

He was qualified for the similar provide that Dorian Finney-Smith had signed. In accordance to Brunson, the Mavericks did not get back to him. In February, Brunson claimed that the Mavericks ended up keen to prolong him that offer you, but by then he was on a regular basis beginning and enjoying well.

Cuban informed the media that Brunson was not ready to indication the extension in January, and the main purpose was the involvement of his mothers and fathers.

“We considered, ‘cause JB kept on telling us he liked staying below. JB hardly ever gave us an indication,” Cuban instructed the media. “It was only the parents that had been the problem.”

Cuban even went so far as to read from his cellular phone to the media what he statements were textual content messages from Mavericks’ General Manager Nico Harrison and Brunson’s agent Aaron Mintz. Messages that allegedly contained Brunson’s father Rick — at present a Knicks assistant mentor — seeking his son to indicator an $18-$23 million per 12 months offer. Brunson signed with the Knicks around the summer time for four decades at $26 million for each year. (New York has a far better document than the Mavs this time.)

The Mavericks experienced every single cause for not seeking to re-indicator Brunson in 2022 equally in the wintertime and in the summer season following his spectacular postseason run. In the former postseason, Trey Burke was introduced off of the bench before him in the third quarter of Recreation 7 of the Mavericks’ first-spherical reduction to the Los Angeles Clippers. Brunson did not participate in 16 minutes in possibly recreation, and was not a normal starter for the Mavericks for a major portion of the 2021-22 period.

Cuban would have been right to be hesitant about how a great deal revenue was provided to lengthen Brunson, but he went so minimal as to blame his parents for wanting their child to sign the best contract attainable. Regardless of the 100 percent real truth of what occurred, putting them at fault is a entire abdication of accountability.

All of which is additional evidence that the man who created his fortune by finding out of the dot com bubble prior to it burst is not the person to revolutionize sporting activities.

Cuban purchased a franchise that now had stars — Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley who created his initially of two All-Star appearances one particular month following the buy.

Cuban was so radical back again then that he doubled down on facilities like Raef LaFrentz, Erik Dampier, DeSagana Diop, and Brendan Haywood. Dampier and Diop were being a component of that 67-get group that dropped to the Golden State Warriors in the to start with spherical. Substantially of Nowitzki’s job was wasted until the Mavericks caught lightning in a bottle when they swept the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011 and went on to beat the Miami Heat in the finals.

The Mavs didn’t gain an additional playoff sequence until eventually last period — mainly since Brunson carried them by way of the to start with spherical when Luka Dončić was hurt. As good as this new and thrilling Mavericks lifestyle has been, it has in no way resulted in a prosperous major-title signing, trade, or a great deal successful soon after 2011.

Cuban’s on-courtroom failures, however, pale in comparison to what transpired in the office environment. In 2018, Athletics Illustrated noted on the “corrosive” office culture of the Mavericks. There were allegations of sexual harassment and assault. (Previous workforce president and CEO Terdema Ussery denied the allegations from him.)

As SI claimed, former Mavs.com conquer writer Earl Sneed remained employed by the franchise right after getting arrested at the group facility and billed with assault.  Sneed pleaded responsible to misdemeanor expenses of spouse and children violence assault and interference with crisis request. He allegedly assaulted a female staff two decades later on. (He declined comment to SI immediately after being contacted.)

An interior investigation verified that the office tradition in the Mavericks place of work was in fact toxic. The investigation also concluded that Cuban experienced no know-how of these incidents, but he did apologize on television for what took place.

In spring 2022, previous coach and basic manager Donnie Nelson — Cuban’s initial head mentor — alleged that he was fired for reporting that Cuban’s chief of staff experienced sexually assaulted his nephew throughout a position interview. Cuban denies people allegations, and the Mavericks produced a assertion that does the identical.

It has been 23 many years considering the fact that Cuban acquired the Mavericks. He has undoubtedly built NBA basketball far extra common in the Metroplex than ever prior to. As significantly as him being a new and enhanced sporting activities operator even though, his keep track of history in the NBA reveals him to be one more man who appreciates how to make a buck.