Could the Indiana Hoosiers big-time donor be heading back into NBA ownership?
One unidentified Dallas investor group is reportedly interested in partnering with Mark Cuban to purchase the Dallas Mavericks from Patrick Dumont, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
Cuban, who spent time on the sidelines during Indiana's historic national championship run, reportedly sees a spark in what rookie Cooper Flagg brings to the table and wants another run in the league. However, it's not going to be easy for the Dumont family to give up control. “The family remains excited about the future of the franchise and the Cooper Flagg era,” one source told Stein.
In December 2023, Cuban sold the Mavericks to the Adelson family for $3.5 billion. Dumont, the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, took over as governor after the purchase. This came with mixed reviews, including the Mavs parting ways with Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. But Cooper Flagg to Dallas softened the blow from the backlash of the deal.
Meanwhile, Cuban became the Mavs minority owner with a 27 percent stake. He purchased the team from H. Ross Perot Jr. for $285 million back in 2000. Dallas enjoyed success under his leadership with an NBA championship in 2011.
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As for the Hoosiers, Cuban appears to be supporting the program from here on out. Curt Cignetti has introduced a winning culture in Bloomington and that doesn't appear to be fading anytime soon. This comes as Indiana loses Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza to the NFL and a slight rebuild to start off Cignetti's third year on the job.
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