The former Mavs majority owner fondly reflected on the stunning trade exit of Doncic to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
On the first official anniversary of the infamous Luka Doncic trade, Mark Cuban was honest enough to admit that he and the Dallas Mavericks are still longing for their former centerpiece.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic
MIN: 36.17
PTS: 33.72 (57.85%)
REB: 7.79
AS: 8.82
ST: 1.54
BL: 0.49
TO: 4.26
GM: 39
Speaking to seasoned NBA correspondent Marc Stein, the former governor and current minority owner of the Mavs noted that the franchise made a miserable decision to part ways with Doncic.
"It was a mistake and I wish they would have spoken to me first. I'm happy for Luka. And I'm happy for Mavs fans that we've got Coop, even though I recognize that we all still miss Luka," he said.
"The people responsible for that [deal] are for the most part gone, which I think was necessary."
The entire sports world was shaken when ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Mavericks committed the unthinkable trade around Doncic, sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers in a package for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round asset.
General manager Nico Harrison, who is now gone from his position, was the man behind this decision for the Mavericks.
The Luka trade instantly created chaos across the league, especially on the side of the Mavs fanbase. The Dallas faithful vehemently protested and called for the immediate dismissal of Harrison.
Doncic, on his own, was completely blindsided by this deal as he embraced being a Maverick. He also led Dallas to the NBA Finals just a year before.
Right now, Doncic is savoring his new beginnings with the Lakers. He is leading the league in scoring (33.7) and has carried LA to a 29-19 record thus far.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, are struggling. With Davis facing injuries all season long and Kyrie Irving still not playing due to his ongoing ACL recovery, they are currently 11th in the West with a 19-30 record.
Even though they now have reigning No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg as the new face of their organization, Cuban and the whole Mavs can only truly have a bittersweet reflection on Doncic's departure.
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