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When Mark Cuban sold the Dallas Mavericks, there was a stated expectation that he would continue to run basketball operations “forevermore.” By the time the Mavericks reached the Finals last June, it was clear that Cuban no longer was in charge the way he had anticipated with Nico Harrison reporting directly to new owner Patrick Dumont.

“It’s not a whole lot different than right before I sold the team,” Cuban said. “Nico was doing pretty much everything and I would give him my thoughts and my feedback – just like I do now.

Then he added: “You’re right – I’m not there making day-to-day decisions. That’s all Nico. That’s just the way it’s evolved. Honestly … is it exactly the way I expected it to be? No. But we’re winning and things are going well. I’m fine with it.”

Cuban hired Harrison in 2021 to replace Donnie Nelson.

“It’s been up and down,” Cuban said of adjusting to his new place in the Mavericks’ hierarchy. “I’ve had moments of both – times where I was like, ‘OK, this is what we need to do, but I’m not the boss.’ And then there have been other times where I’m like: ‘I’m glad I’m not the boss.’ “

He added: “The only time I feel any regret is when the NBA pisses me off. Maybe it would be different if we were losing and things weren’t going well, but things are going well. It’s nothing specific to the Mavs. I can’t go into NBA meetings anymore and give them shit for being petty.”