Mark Cuban: “My Focus is on winning

“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’ 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 ➡

“My job is to put every player and employee in a position to succeed. I’m going to do all I can to make that happen.”

league and has driven the sport into a modern marketing era that has seen continued growth throughout the US and an invested interest from global audiences too.

Taking a backfoot on commercialisation, Mark has defined a new ownership strategy, which has seen them go from a team that was never taken seriously to world champions, resulting in their franchise worth skyrocketing.

Things were not always so easy for the Maverick’s owner in the early years of his career, which he has spoken openly about previously. In the past, he revealed having to sleep on the floor of a three-bedroom Dallas apartment with six other people and there was a time when he was unable to make the US$200 minimum to open up a bank account.

Having worked as a software salesman after moving to Dallas in 1982, Mark decided to start his own consulting business and his first technology company became a big success, having eventually sold it for US$6 million. He would later go on to form Broadcast.com, which after being made public in 1998 and its stock prices settled at US$200, Yahoo brought out the business for US$6 billion.

Mark’s rags to riches story would go on to allow him to channel his journey into the standards he still holds to this day, with regards to not just owning the Mavericks but in everyday life too.

“I know what it’s like to be broke and I didn’t like it. That always motivates me to stay ahead and to be considerate of others who are going through what I did.”

Player care has become one of the shifting focuses for the Dallas Mavericks, much like the whole NBA, but this was always a priority for Mark, who invested money into things that players would directly benefit from, including a new team plane, DVD players and TV’s in each of the players’ stalls in the locker room.

On this, Mark said: “My job is to put every player and employee in a position to succeed. I’m going to do all I can to make that happen.”

Perhaps what optimises Mark’s dedication to providing athlete care can be shown when last year, the Maverick’s owner picked up former NBA player Delonte West from a gas station after concerning photos and video emerged

“She is continuously finding new ways to empower those that need it, and we are always here to be a part of it, learn from her and help.” Mark On Cynt Marshall

suggesting that West was struggling through a difficult period, as had been widely known after his retirement from the sport.

The former Dallas Maverick’s player was brought to a hotel by Mark before he offered to pay for his rehabilitation treatment and get him back on the right path.

Moreover, in the last year with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the 62-yearold has taken it upon himself, alongside the franchise, to speak out on racial injustices that still grip society even today and for that, he gives credit to the Maverick’s Chief Executive Officer, Cynt Marshall.

“She has such an amazing connection to minority ethnic communities and the issues that they face. She is continuously finding new ways to empower those that need it, and we are always here to be a part of it, learn from her and help.

“What makes the NBA different than other sports is that I think we enable our players to be themselves. Some leagues want their athletes to conform to a certain approach. One that appeases their customers.

“The NBA encourages our players to do what is important to them and make every effort to enact the change they seek.”

True to form, the outspoken and radica owner of the Dallas Mavericks has taken a unique step to be involved in the world of cryptocurrency by declaring that the franchise now “accept all forms of cryptocurrency payments” and has chosen to specifically speak out on Dogecoin for the “PR value”, after recent increases in value occurred from publicity boosts by Tesla and SpaceX owner Elon Musk and American rapper Snoop Dogg.

Mav’s Fans for Life, the Mavericks’ member club, will be allowed to use the payment to purchase tickets and merchandise online, having already accepted Bitcoin as a method of payment for almost two years, further highlighting the non-conformist but successful approach to the running of an NBA outfit.

Away from basketball, Cuban takes a keen interest in rugby, a sport very popular across Europe and Australasia and is beginning to grow in popularity in the US, through the Major League Rugby (MLR) competition.

“Rugby is still a secondary sport here in the USA. It’s unfortunate because it’s my second favourite sport after basketball. I still watch rugby 15s whenever I can,” confessed Mark.

“Fortunately, rugby is finally getting investors to try to build the development side in high schools and at the pro level with MLR. I think MLR has a real chance and is better organised and financed than its predecessors.”

Mark Cuban’s journey through the sports industry has been well decorated, having been able to bring about success for his team, as well as himself. His exploration of the ownership dynamic looks sure to be continuing into the future, where he will be determined to secure more wins for the Maverick’s with player care and motivation at the forefront. ◆