Mark Cuban, the former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, said the NBA should “embrace tanking,” framing it as a fan-focused issue and pointing to affordability as a central part of the league’s product.
Cuban’s comments centered on the idea that the overall fan experience should be the chief consideration in how the NBA approaches teams that struggle or choose to rebuild. In that context, he argued that affordability is a key factor in the formula.
Fan experience and affordability
In discussing why the league should be more accepting of tanking, Cuban highlighted the connection between on-court direction and what fans pay for — emphasizing that the cost of attending games matters as much as the basketball itself.
Cuban previously served as the Mavericks’ majority owner and remains one of the NBA’s most prominent voices on business and league-wide issues. His latest remarks add to ongoing conversations around competitive balance and how rebuilding teams fit into the league’s broader entertainment and pricing landscape.