<\/p>\n
Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban (left) and governor Patrick Dumont, remain during the a press conference officially introducing Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg on Friday, June 27, 2025, at Mavericks Training Center in Dallas.<\/p>\n
Shafkat Anowar\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
Here in Dallas, news that Mark Cuban is part of a private equity firm that has purchased a minority stake in MLB\u2019s Athletics<\/a> produced two seemingly logical takeaways.<\/p>\n The first is that Cuban, who tried to buy the bankrupt Texas Rangers<\/a> in 2010 and has been a long-speculated potential buyer of his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates, finally has a toehold in pro baseball.<\/p>\n The other? Cuban is pivoting away from his beloved Mavericks, the\u00a0NBA franchise he owned from 2000 to 2023 and in which he still has a 27% stake, but from which he\u2019s become increasingly estranged.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThe pivot away from the\u00a0Mavs was not my choice,\u201d Cuban told The Dallas Morning News on Friday, a day after Harbinger Sports Partners, of which he is general partner and president, bought an undisclosed percentage of the A\u2019s<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI have spoken on the phone once with Masai [Ujiri] for about 120 seconds,\u201d Cuban continued, in response to emailed questions from The News. \u201cSame with Patrick [Dumont]; day of [Ujiri\u2019s] hiring.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had two texts with Masai, both I think maybe 2 or 3 word responses, a couple with no response. Which is fine. His choice. I absolutely expected it when they hired Masai. That\u2019s why they hired him. To run basketball.<\/p>\n \u201cFans are excited to see what happens and as a\u00a0Mavs fan, so am I.\u201d<\/p>\n Ujiri was hired as the Mavericks\u2019 president<\/a> and named alternate governor May 4. Given Cuban\u2019s actions this month, his communications with franchise leadership likely will remain scant, if any words are exchanged at all.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Cuban\u2019s legal counsel submitted a court filing July 8 in Dallas County alleging that Dumont has engaged in \u201cadversarial business practices.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0The filing asks that Mavericks majority ownership be forced to disclose details about the franchise\u2019s planned Valley View arena development, financing and corporate structure.<\/p>\n Court documents for that potential lawsuit have been sealed, though it\u2019s unclear who requested that action and why. Cuban on Friday declined to respond to The News\u2019 questions about the legal proceeding or to characterize his relationship with Dumont.<\/p>\n Cuban and the Athletics<\/p>\n He did, however, briefly discuss his venture with Atlanta-based Harbinger Sports Partners<\/a>. The group was established in May 2025 with Cuban as a founding member and former fellow\u00a0Shark Tank panelist and Atlanta Falcons limited partner Rashaun Williams as chief investment officer.<\/p>\n Cuban said Shark Tank is where he met \u201cand got to be good friends\u201d with Williams.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Harbinger\u2019s leadership also includes chief financial officer and former\u00a0MLB executive vice president Jonathan Mariner and chief executive officer Steve Cannon, Mercedes-Benz\u2019s former CEO and a longtime Falcons executive.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are smart and experienced,\u201d Cuban said. \u201cMariner, Rashaun, Cannon all have spot on experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n