Since purchasing a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks back in 2000, Mark Cuban has made a name for himself as being one of the most active team owners in the league today. He is usually present during their games, and even joins the team inside their locker room from time to time.
However, when he started this venture, not a lot of his peers had faith in him, as he was still a young businessman with limited knowledge about running an NBA franchise. He recently revealed though, via Dalton Trigg of SB Nation, that the late owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dr. Jerry Buss, was one of only a few team owners that believed in him back then.
“I tried to run the Mavs like a startup. We brought in 10 former players to help develop our players. People laughed at me. I sat next to the bench and listened into huddles. If it made sense to be in sales and management meetings and learn how people interacted, it made sense to listen in to huddles during a game and learn.”
“I challenged all conventional wisdom. Some people, like Jerry Buss, really supported me. Others did everything possible to get me out.”
“Now, none of that is new anymore. It’s the new old school.”
Buss passed away in 2013, after his long battle with cancer. His six children own stakes with the Lakers, but the controlling powers are with her daughter, Jeanie Buss, who also acts as the president of the organization.
The support Mark Cuban got from Jerry Buss has helped him become the successful team owner that he is now. Save for last season and 2013, the Mavericks have made the playoffs since he took over. They even made it to the Finals twice, winning the title back in 2011.
Many may have doubted him, but the unconventional ways he tried to help his team have all paid off. Given all the success he’s had in Dallas, the 58-year-old billionaire will always be thankful for the belief he received from the late Lakers owner, who is considered one of the best in NBA history.
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