Mark Cuban might not be running Texas’s Dallas Mavericks like he used to, but that doesn’t mean he’s done dishing out stories from his two-decade run as the team’s outspoken and often unorthodox owner. And his latest reveal? He used to literally hand his players a credit card and tell them to go eat.
Yes, you read that right. According to Fire Digital, during a recent podcast appearance, Mark Cuban admitted that back when he was the controlling owner of the Mavericks, he’d sometimes just give his players a card and say, “Go get some dinner.”
It’s a move that perfectly sums up the way Cuban ran things in Texas, part hands-on businessman, part cool older brother. He didn’t just own the team; he lived it, breathed it, and apparently picked up the tab for it. And let’s be real, most NBA players can afford their own dinners. This was less about money and more about building a vibe. Cuban made sure his players felt supported, like the organization had their back on and off the court. The fans were also very big on that. “How could he expect a guy like Dirk to pay for his own dinner?”
Texas Loves Mark Cuban
For over 20 years, Cuban was the face of Mavericks basketball. He was courtside yelling at refs, high-fiving Dirk Nowitzki after big wins, and celebrating with fans when the team finally climbed the mountain in 2011 to win its first NBA title. Taking down the Miami Heat’s superteam of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh was the ultimate revenge for that heartbreaking 2006 Finals loss.
But times have changed in Texas. Mark Cuban gave up his majority stake in the team in late 2023, and the organization has been through the wringer ever since. The biggest bombshell came when the Mavs shipped out franchise superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season. That move sent shockwaves through the NBA world and left fans wondering what direction the team was heading.
Turns out, the direction was straight to the lottery. The 2024-25 season was a disaster; injuries piled up, the team underperformed, and Dallas went from an NBA Finals appearance in 2024 to missing the playoffs completely. Ouch.
What Does the Future Have in Store for the Dallas Mavericks?
But hey, there’s a silver lining. The Mavs ended up with the No. 1 overall pick, which turned into phenom Cooper Flagg. Now, Dallas has a new-look core with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Flagg leading the charge. If they stay healthy, the Mavs could easily be back in the mix next season, and that season tips off next month.
Cuban may not be calling all the shots anymore, but make no mistake, he still cares deeply about this team. And with Luka’s Lakers on the schedule four times this year, Cuban’s got to be circling those matchups on the calendar. The man loves a good rivalry.
So, will the Mavericks get back to their Cuban-era winning ways? Time will tell. But if things go south, maybe someone should give Texas’s new star, Cooper Flagg, Mark Cuban’s old credit card and tell him to grab dinner with the team, just to keep the tradition alive.
