Mark Cuban, the well-known entrepreneur and former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, had low expectations as he tuned into the NBA draft lottery on Monday night. In a candid message to The News, he admitted, “I fully expected what has happened every year since 1980.” With a history of unfortunate lottery draws, Cuban was prepared for disappointment as he watched the event unfold from his master bedroom TV.
Accompanied by his 15-year-old son, Jake, Cuban settled in to watch the ESPN broadcast. The Mavericks have long been plagued by bad lottery luck, a fact that Cuban likely didn’t need to remind his son about. Having owned the team for over two decades, Cuban has witnessed the ups and downs of the franchise, which has now existed for 45 years.
As the lottery progressed and NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum revealed the first four team cards—San Antonio, Atlanta, Chicago, and Portland—Cuban and Jake realized that the Mavericks had secured a spot in the top four. However, the coveted No. 1 pick seemed like a distant dream, especially with only a 1.8% chance of landing it. “When we got past 11, I still thought ‘No way,’” Cuban reflected. He quickly called Patrick Dumont, the new Mavericks governor who had recently acquired majority interest in the team, to share the good news.
Dumont was attending a track meet in Nevada, where one of his children was competing, adding another layer of excitement to the moment. As Tatum revealed the final four picks after an ESPN commercial break, tension mounted in the Cuban household. Tatum first turned over the card for Charlotte, then Philadelphia. This left only the Mavericks and the Spurs in contention for the top spot.
“Then my son and I were bouncing around like we were watching a 3-point game-winner in slow motion,” Cuban described the exhilarating moment. When Tatum announced the Spurs as the third pick, the excitement was palpable. Cuban called Dumont again, celebrating as if they were two teenagers at a Taylor Swift concert. “LOL,” Cuban added, emphasizing the joy of the moment.
Following the thrilling announcement, Cuban reached out to coach Jason Kidd and sent congratulatory texts to general manager Nico Harrison and other team members. “It was an amazing moment,” he concluded, capturing the elation felt not just by him and his family, but by Mavericks fans everywhere. This unexpected turn of events during the NBA draft lottery has reignited hope among the Mavericks' loyal supporters.
