The Dallas Mavericks have a new owner as the NBA has officially approved the sale of the franchise from Mark Cuban to Miriam Adelson and her family. This news comes after Cuban announced his intention to sell the team earlier this year.
Adelson, a casino mogul, inherits the wealth from her late husband Sheldon, who owned the Las Vegas Sands Corp until his passing in 2021. She is also the largest shareholder of the company and is known as the fifth wealthiest woman in the world. Her son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, will serve as the Mavs’ governor.
Cuban will still retain small shares of the club and will continue to control basketball operations. This move marks a significant change for the Mavericks, as Cuban has been known for being one of the most hands-on owners in the NBA.
Many were surprised to see Cuban sell the team, as he has been actively involved in the franchise’s operations and has made significant changes in the past. He has been known to address issues such as sexual assault allegations and harassment within the organization, essentially rebuilding the team from the inside out.
The sale of the Mavericks to Adelson is not without controversy, as she has a track record of supporting someone who has faced similar allegations. Adelson and her family already own Hapoel Jerusalem, a team in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
Despite the controversy, Adelson becomes the third woman to own an NBA franchise, joining Jeanie Buss of the Lakers and Gayle Benson of the Pelicans. This move highlights the increasing diversity among NBA team owners and the growing presence of women in positions of power within the league.
The deal between Cuban and Adelson is expected to close later this week, according to The Athletic. It will be interesting to see how Adelson’s ownership will impact the Mavericks and what changes she will bring to the organization.
