"Still thought we were trash" - Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban explains why he bought the Dallas Mavericks 

Preksha
Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban (Image via ABC)
Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban (Image via ABC)

Shark Tank investor, Mark Cuban, bought the Mavericks in the 2000s. But given the team's performance in the previous decade, nobody expected them to make waves in the NBA.

Despite having players such as Sean Bradley and Michael Finley, they were still considered a struggling entity. Mark Cuban saw potential in the team and decided to invest in the same. He bought the Mavericks for $285 million.

What stood out to Mark, as he describes in the Knuckleheads Podcast, is the lack of passion from the ownership. They did not seem invested in the success of the team but Mark believed he could do a better job of running the franchise.

Explaining why he bought the Dallas Mavericks even though there were a lot of people who advised him against it, Shark Tank investor Mark said:

"We had Sean Bradley and Finley and Nash but everybody still thought we were trash...and I was like I can do a better job than this because the guy who owned it didn't care about basketball at all so I was like, you know what, I just made all this money, I can put my money where my mouth is."

Adding, he said:

"And within six weeks it was a done deal. I don't care, didn't negotiate did nothing it was just like and everybody thought I was an idiot you're buying a Dallas Mavericks they suck."

Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban explains why he bought the Dallas Mavericks

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Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban notes that the purchase of Dallas Mavericks happened quickly. In just a matter of six weeks, he was able to finalize the deal for $285 million. Even though there were people who were second-guessing his decision, Mark relied on his decision and went through with it.

At the time, he said, the Mavericks were compared to the Los Angeles Clippers, another team that had historically struggled in the NBA.

Then explaining how he was able to acquire the Mavericks, Shark Tank's Mark said he had strong financial backing. He had just made a fortune in the tech industry and sold his company in stocks for $5.7 billion.

Acting upon the same, he also protected his investment in the team by covering his Yahoo stock holdings in a way that shielded him from market volatility. He claimed that the stock's rise in a single day was enough for him to cover his purchase of the team. He explained:

"I just made a lot of money. I mean at that point I remember being on the bus with Dell Harris he was like how did you pay so much money? Because it was the number one price paid for any team at the time right, and it was close to the top for like another 10 years.
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Continuing, he said:

I'm like 'Dell I got this Yahoo stock I've kind of covered to protect myself so it doesn't go down but that just went up a 100 bucks today.' That paid for it. The stock in one day paid for buying the team so I'm good."

In another interview with GQ Sports, Shark Tank investor Mark further explained what he did after buying the team. To change the culture from within, Mark said he interacted with the team members and acknowledged their issues.

Focusing on upgrading their travel arrangements and health, he employed a nutritionist to help the athletes practice better. They each also received coaches to develop game strategies and practice their skills for the game.


Shark Tank season 16 releases new episodes weekly on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Fridays. Later, they can be streamed online through Hulu.

Edited by Amey Mirashi
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