When Cuban sold his majority stake in the Mavericks back in November 2023, it was reported that he would retain control of basketball operations. While he remains a minority owner in the franchise, the Dončić trade makes it clear his role has diminished within the walls of the facility.

The Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic a week ago was one of the most shocking events in NBA history. And it seems the team’s former majority owner, Mark Cuban, tried to kill the deal before it was completed.

In a conversation with Bill Gates at the Eisemann Center in Richardson on Friday night, Cuban was blunt in his first public response about the trade that sent the international superstar he drafted to Los Angeles. "I've had a rough week," Cuban told Gates to begin the event per Sarah Hepola of The Dallas Morning News.

The Dallas Mavericks reportedly didn't consult with Mark Cuban before trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Former Dallas Mavericks governor Mark Cuban joked about the Luka Dončić trade during a conversation with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at an event on

AD trade, it was too late. Dumont never approached for advice. Sources say Cuban urged Harrison not to go ahead with the swap … only to find

Mark Cuban sold off his majority share in the Mavericks and is now a minority owner. He no longer has full control of day-to-day operations as he once had.

After one of the most controversial trades in NBA history, where the Mavericks sent away homegrown superstar Luka Doncic due to concerns with injury potential and conditioning, Dallas' new franchise centerpiece is already out for 'multiple weeks' with an adductor strain.

Although he remains a minority owner of the team, Cuban has stepped back from day-to-day basketball operations since the Adelson family acquired majority control in late 2023.