Mark Cuban, minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, openly acknowledged that the team deliberately tanked games to improve their draft position and select Luka Dončić. This admission came amid the NBA’s recent crackdown on teams like the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers, fined for resting healthy players to increase their chances in the draft. Cuban’s comments highlight the strategic role tanking played in landing one of the most promising talents since Dirk Nowitzki.
During the 2018 NBA Draft, Luka Dončić was picked third overall by the Atlanta Hawks but was immediately traded to the Mavericks in exchange for a future first-round pick. Cuban referenced a specific game during the tanking period in a social media post from February 17, 2026, describing how the team aimed to secure a high draft slot.
Details of the Tanking Incident and Public Response
In his post, Cuban recalled a game against the Memphis Grizzlies where the Mavericks’ young players performed intensely despite the tanking strategy. He described a last-second three-pointer from Salah Mejri that sent the game into overtime, resulting in a Mavericks win and ultimately the team finishing with the third-worst record to maneuver their draft position.
The young players will always play their hearts out. We had one game when we were tanking for Luka , it was close against the grizzlies. We are down 3. We have the last posssesion. Salah Mejri hits 3 to send it to OT. Mavs win. We end up with the 3rd worst record. Fall to 5. Have to give up a first to get up to 3 to get Luka,
Mark Cuban, minority owner, Dallas Mavericks
However, fans quickly identified inaccuracies in Cuban’s account, noting that Mejri did not hit any three-pointers during the referenced season, with a 0-3 record from beyond the arc. Additionally, another user pointed out that the specific game was in 2019, which shifted the Mavericks’ draft odds and moved them behind the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies in the lottery standings. Cuban acknowledged this correction.
Mark this game was in 2019 and moved the mavericks behind new orleans and memphis in lottery odds, and of course those two teams jumped up to the top 2 picks,
user correction
Cuban’s Admission Highlights the Use of Tanking as a Strategy
Despite the confusion over dates and details, Cuban’s messages confirmed that the Mavericks employed tanking strategically, albeit sparingly, during his 23 years with the team. In a separate tweet, he emphasized that although tanking wasn’t common, it was valued by fans when executed and ultimately enabled the franchise to improve through securing Dončić.
We didn’t tank often. Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka and improve our team.
Mark Cuban, minority owner, Dallas Mavericks
NBA’s Efforts to Combat Tanking and Cuban’s Contrasting View
The NBA has taken a firm stance against tanking, which is perceived to be prevalent this season given the strength of the 2026 draft class. Commissioner Adam Silver recently condemned actions that prioritize draft positioning over competition, pledging to respond to any behavior compromising the league’s integrity.
Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition, and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,
Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner
In contrast, Cuban urged the league to accept tanking as part of the modern NBA landscape. His comments arrived as the Mavericks currently struggle through a difficult season, holding a 19-35 record and sitting 12th in the Western Conference, seven games behind the final play-in position. This raises questions about whether the team will push for playoffs or consider another strategic slump to chase a high draft pick, potentially targeting upcoming talent like Cooper Flagg.
Potential Directions for the Mavericks Moving Forward
Cuban’s remarks come at a pivotal moment following organizational changes, including the dismissal of Nico Harrison. With the Mavericks facing a challenging playoff chase, Cuban’s openness about tanking suggests the franchise might consider repeated calculated losses to rebuild. This approach signals a deliberate focus on long-term talent acquisition through the draft rather than short-term competitiveness.
The admission of tanking underscores ongoing tensions in the NBA regarding balancing competitive integrity with strategic roster building, especially as teams seek to exploit draft advantages to secure transformative players like Dončić. How the league adapts its policies and how teams respond could shape the competitive landscape in the coming years.
The young players will always play their hearts out. We had one game when we were tanking for Luka , it was close against the grizzlies. We are down 3. We have the last posssesion. Salah Mejri hits 3 to send it to OT. Mavs win. We end up with the 3rd worst record. Fall to… https://t.co/9h9uGMiwy9
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 18, 2026
You are right. I made a mistake. I was going by memory. It was the 2016-7 season. We ended up with the 4th worst record.
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 18, 2026
Why the NBA should embrace tanking –
The NBA has kate been misguided thinking that fans want to see their teams compete every night with a chance to win. It’s never been that way that way.
When I got into the nba, they thought they were in the basketball business. They…
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 17, 2026
