This past week has been the final straw in a disappointing saga for the Dallas Mavericks, who have struggled throughout the 2022-23 season. Just a couple of months post the high-profile acquisition of Kyrie Irving, they found themselves barely clinging to playoff hopes. While it may be tempting to point fingers at Irving for the team’s downward trajectory, the issues plaguing Dallas began long before his arrival. The root of these challenges can be traced back to the top, specifically to team owner Mark Cuban, whose unfiltered approach has often ruffled feathers within the NBA and disrupted the league’s status quo.

On Wednesday, Cuban unexpectedly addressed the media, providing insights into the failed contract extension negotiations with rising New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Cuban directly refuted claims made by Brunson to Turner Sports’ Chris Haynes, which suggested that those in Brunson’s camp believed he would have accepted a four-year, $55.5 million extension from the Mavericks.

Brunson was eligible for a similar contract to the one signed by Dorian Finney-Smith. According to Brunson, the Mavericks did not follow up with him. In February, Brunson stated that the Mavericks were willing to extend him an offer, but by that time, he had already established himself as a regular starter and was performing well.

Cuban asserted during the media availability that Brunson was not prepared to sign the extension in January, citing his parents’ involvement as a significant factor in the decision-making process.

“We thought, ‘cause JB kept on telling us he liked being here. JB never gave us an indication,” Cuban told the media. “It was only the parents that were the issue.”

Cuban even went so far as to read text messages from his phone during the press conference, which he claimed were exchanges between Mavericks’ General Manager Nico Harrison and Brunson’s agent Aaron Mintz. These messages allegedly included requests from Brunson’s father, Rick—who at the time was an assistant coach for the Knicks—urging his son to secure a contract worth between $18-$23 million annually. Ultimately, Brunson signed with the Knicks for four years at $26 million per year, and New York currently boasts a better record than the Mavericks this season.

The Mavericks had valid reasons for hesitancy regarding Brunson’s re-signing in 2022, particularly given his impressive postseason performance. In the previous postseason, however, Trey Burke was brought off the bench before Brunson in the critical moments of the third quarter in Game 7 of the Mavericks’ first-round playoff exit against the Los Angeles Clippers. Brunson was notably absent for 16 minutes in both games and was not a consistent starter for a significant portion of the 2021-22 season.

While Cuban might have had justifiable concerns regarding the financial commitment to extending Brunson, his decision to blame the player’s parents for their desire to secure the best contract possible reflects a troubling lack of accountability. Regardless of the underlying truth of the circumstances, placing blame elsewhere is an evasion of responsibility.

This situation serves as further evidence that the man who amassed his wealth by navigating the dot-com bubble is perhaps not the visionary leader needed to transform sports.

Cuban acquired a franchise that already featured stars like Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley, who made his first of two All-Star appearances shortly after the acquisition.

Back then, Cuban’s radical approach included investments in players like Raef LaFrentz, Erik Dampier, DeSagana Diop, and Brendan Haywood. Dampier and Diop were integral parts of the 67-win team that suffered a shocking first-round defeat to the Golden State Warriors. Much of Nowitzki’s career was underutilized until the Mavericks achieved a historic milestone in 2011, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers and ultimately triumphing over the Miami Heat in the finals.

Since then, the Mavericks haven’t managed to win another playoff series until last season, largely thanks to Brunson’s contributions during the initial round when Luka Dončić was sidelined due to injury. While the Mavericks’ culture has become more vibrant and exciting, there has yet to be any significant acquisitions, trades, or sustained success comparable to their 2011 championship run.

Cuban’s failures on the court, however, are overshadowed by the troubling incidents that have transpired within the organization. In 2018, Sports Illustrated uncovered a “corrosive” workplace culture within the Mavericks, revealing allegations of sexual harassment and assault, which former team president and CEO Terdema Ussery denied.

As reported by SI, former Mavs.com beat writer Earl Sneed continued to be employed by the franchise even after being arrested on team premises and charged with assault. Sneed later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to family violence and interference with emergency requests and allegedly assaulted a female employee two years afterward. He declined to comment when approached by SI.

An internal investigation confirmed that the workplace culture within the Mavericks was indeed toxic. The investigation concluded that while Cuban had no knowledge of these incidents, he publicly apologized for the occurrences.

In the spring of 2022, former head coach and general manager Donnie Nelson—Cuban’s first head coach—claimed that he was terminated for reporting that Cuban’s chief of staff had sexually assaulted his nephew during a job interview. Cuban denies these allegations, and the Mavericks issued a statement supporting his denial.

It has been 23 years since Cuban purchased the Mavericks. While he has undeniably elevated the profile of NBA basketball in the Metroplex, his track record as a sports owner reflects more of a businessman focused on profit than a true innovator in the sports industry.