Mark Cuban Admits Miscommunication With Nico Harrison Left Him “Not Happy” Over Luka Doncic Trade

Mark Cuban has opened up about the controversial trade that sent Luka Dončić away from the Dallas Mavericks, laying bare a major miscommunication between him and then–GM Nico Harrison — and admitting he was blindsided by the deal.

Cuban revealed that he first learned of the trade while at an event in Florida.

“I was at an event … I get a text from Nico … and then I realized he was telling me that this was done. And obviously, I was not happy.” He initially thought Harrison was asking for his input — only to realize Harrison was informing him of a completed deal, not seeking his counsel.

He added, “I wouldn’t have done this … thank you for giving me the call.” For Cuban, the lack of involvement was especially painful. As he put it, “Some things happened internally where … the person who traded Luka didn’t want me there. And so they won. I lost.”

Cuban didn’t shy away from admitting his own mistake either.

“Yeah, I f–ed up,” he confessed, saying he underestimated how much influence he was losing after selling majority ownership of the team. He suggested that when he sold his stake, he believed he would retain meaningful control over basketball decisions — but that didn’t happen.

Beyond the personal blow, Cuban also raised strategic concerns. He criticized Harrison for a “lack of attention” to Dončić’s personality and off-court life — something, he said, factored into Harrison’s controversial decision. Meanwhile, according to Cuban, the bigger issues for firing Harrison weren’t just about Luka, but financial mismanagement, particularly around the team’s salary cap.

Cuban’s remarks highlight a stark divide: although he no longer controls day‑to‑day operations, he clearly believes he was shut out from one of the most consequential decisions in Mavericks history.