It was four words that cut through every talking point the Dallas Mavericks’ new ownership has offered since taking over in 2023, and Dallas Stars attorney Joshua Sandler delivered them without hesitation.
“The Las Vegas Mavericks.”
Sandler made the reference during legal proceedings on Friday tied to the American Airlines Center dispute. Both franchises are engaged in a heated battle over contract disputes over the Arena's rights. The Adelson-Dumont ownership group had filed paperwork with the Texas Secretary of State listing Las Vegas, Nevada, as the Mavericks’ principal place of business. The Stars organization isn't quite fond of this and has taken its case to court.
The Stars' attorney just called the Mavericks "the Las Vegas Mavericks."
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) March 6, 2026
Since the Adelson-Dumont family acquired more than 70 percent of the franchise from Mark Cuban, the Mavericks have traded away franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic, endured what critics call the toxic Nico Harrison era, and watched the organization lose its competitive footing and community standing in near-simultaneous fashion.
The roots of the Mavericks' ownership run deep in Las Vegas. The late Sheldon Adelson was a driving force behind the NFL Raiders’ relocation there. Early last month, Las Vegas Sands Corp. named Dumont its next chairman and CEO, a move that connects him even more closely to Las Vegas, a top NBA expansion target.
“The Dallas Mavericks are not moving to Las Vegas,” Dumont told the Morning News. “There is no question in that. That is the answer, unequivocally. The Dallas Mavericks are the Dallas Mavericks and they will be in Dallas.” Dumont told the Dallas Morning News in 2025.
But for the Mavericks fan base, words mean little. It's actions that speak louder, and the actions haven't been persuasive enough.
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