MARK CUBAN
“MY FOCUS IS ON WINNING”: MARK CUBAN, THE MAVERICK ENTREPRENEUR Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, spoke to Premier Sports Network about his passion for sport, challenges of ownership, philosophies of leadership and the adoption of Cryptocurrency. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the biggest sports leagues in the world, with franchise values averaging US$2.2 billion in 2021, according to the latest figures from the Forbes value table, with figures ranging from US$1.3 billion (Memphis Grizzlies) all the way to US$5 billion (New York Knicks).
However, it is the team whose worth puts them in ninth place, the Dallas Mavericks, valued at US$2.45 billion that, as their ‘maverick’ 4 | OTFF ISSUE 15 ★ APRIL 2021
name suggests, have placed more value on a winning strategy and player care over commercial aspects, which has seen them triumph on and off the court, nonetheless. “We really don’t work on global branding. My focus is on winning,” said the Mavericks’ ambitious owner Mark Cuban. Having purchased a majority investment in the franchise in 2000, Mark oversaw an impressive turnaround in fortunes for the Mavericks, who in the 20 years prior to his investment, had only won 40 per cent of their games with a play-off record of 21-32 and in
the 10 years that followed from the year 2000, the team won 69 per cent of their regular season games and reached the play-offs in each season, except for one. “I’ve always been big on basketball for as long as I can remember. I was a season ticket holder for years. When the opportunity to buy the team came along, I jumped on it,” said Mark, when asked about his motivations for investing. “Winning is hard in the NBA. There are 29 other teams trying to end your season. There is no template for success,” he added
Upon his purchase of the stake in the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA found itself reeling from the difficulties in marketing itself in a postMichael Jordan era and Mark vocalised his opinions and ideas on what he believed would help the league continue on its upward curve into the 21st century, following its success throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. With his priorities set solely on a winning mentality and providing the necessary care for his players to go on and succeed, Mark has gone on to become one of the most influential owners in the ➡
