Mark Cuban Says Dallas Mavericks Are ‘Imbalanced’ And Reflects On Luka Dončić And Team Direction

Jake RogersNovember 11, 2025November 11, 2025no comment

Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images

Former Mavericks governor and current minority owner Mark Cuban didn’t mince words when asked about Dallas’ struggles early in the season.

Appearing on The Stephen A. Smith Show on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio last Friday — when the Mavericks were 2–6 — Cuban voiced concerns about the team’s “imbalanced” roster, lack of playmaking depth, and fit around its stars.

Since that interview, Dallas has lost two more games and fired general manager Nico Harrison. Governor Patrick Dumont announced the decision Monday following the team’s 116–114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, naming Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi co-interim general managers. The Mavericks enter Wednesday’s home matchup against the Phoenix Suns with a 3–8 record.

“I’m not thrilled with the composition of the team,” Cuban said. “I think we’re imbalanced. We don’t have enough depth at point guard. We don’t have somebody who’s a creator that gets other people shots or enough of that. I didn’t think we were going to crush it and start off 8-0, but I didn’t expect 2-6.”

Mark Cuban Cites Roster Shortcomings and Player Health

Cuban described a roster lacking balance and consistent playmaking, particularly without injured stars Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II. He noted that even with a healthy lineup, spacing remains a major issue.

“We have Klay as a three-point shooter. D-Lo can shoot some threes, mostly off the dribble, and that’s it,” Cuban said. “P.J. is a good 3-point shooter, but we can’t really run five out. We have to go small ball with P.J. or small ball with Coop at the five, believe it or not, to really create space.”

Cuban also discussed Davis’ importance to the team, recalling his dominant first half in the season opener before his latest injury setback.

“When (Davis) was healthy, playing against Houston, he was making threes, getting every rebound, pushing the ball up the court, and pounding his chest screaming, ‘I am here!’” Cuban said. “When he is that player, we’re obviously better. But you can’t ask a big that’s not meant to bring the ball up every play to do that all the time.”

Cooper Flagg’s Growth and Luka Dončić’s Departure Weigh on Mark Cuban

Cuban praised 18-year-old Cooper Flagg, calling him “the real deal” and comparing his early development to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s progression under Jason Kidd in Milwaukee.

“He literally may be the best passer we have on the Mavericks right now,” Cuban said.

Still, the longtime owner admitted it’s “painful” watching Luka Dončić excel with the Los Angeles Lakers after being traded in February. Dončić has averaged 40 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists to open the season.

“I’m happy for Luka because he’s a great guy,” Cuban said. “It’s just painful, you know, as a Mavs fan and as somebody who, if I would have done a better job defining my role in advance, might not have let that happen. It hurts me. I know it kills Mavs fans everywhere.”

Franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki, appearing separately as an analyst on Amazon Prime, echoed Cuban’s frustration with the team’s offense.

“I feel bad for my Mavs fans,” Nowitzki said. “This has been a disastrous start. Obviously, there’s a hole at the point guard and playmaking position… they can’t shoot, they can’t make plays. It’s been tough to watch.”

As the Mavericks prepare for Wednesday’s game against the Suns, they do so under new leadership, still searching for rhythm, identity, and the consistency that once defined the Cuban-Nowitzki era.