What does Cuban think of Mavericks luring May away from Michigan?

Mark Cuban. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

What does Mark Cuban think of Mavericks luring Dusty May away from Michigan?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jun 22, 2026 4:15 PM ET

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban hasn't approved of many of the organization's moves since he sold his majority stake in December 2023.

In 2025, Cuban criticized the organization for trading star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for forward/center Anthony Davis (now with the Washington Wizards) in a disastrous deal. In March, he admitted he wouldn't have hired former general manager Nico Harrison if he knew he would freeze him out of basketball operations and drive the franchise into the ground.

After going 26-56 this past season, the Mavericks have finally realized they should make choices that Cuban would support. That started Monday when Dallas lured head coach Dusty May away from the Michigan Wolverines.

Mark Cuban reacts to hiring of Dusty May

The Mavericks and May agreed to a deal on Monday. He'll replace Jason Kidd, whom the team fired in May. After the news broke, Cuban expressed optimism about the hire.

"He is an Indiana grad. I met him way back when he worked as a student manager and video coach," Indiana Hoosiers alum Cuban said, via Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. "I'm sure he will do a great job."

Mark Cuban on the Mavericks' hiring of Michigan coach Dusty May:

"He is an Indiana grad. I met him way back when he worked as a student manager and video coach. I'm sure he will do a great job."
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) June 22, 2026

May excelled during his stops with Michigan and the Florida Atlantic Owls. He piloted the Owls to their first Final Four in 2023. This past season, he led the Wolverines to their second national championship in basketball, just two seasons after going 8-24.

May's ability to turn downtrodden programs into championship contenders should aid him in Dallas. So should his ability to maximize the talents of young players.

The Mavericks feature one of the most promising youngsters in the league in 19-year-old forward Cooper Flagg. The No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft won Rookie of the Year this past season after finishing 24th in the league in scoring (21 points per game).

May never coached former Duke Blue Devils star Flagg at the collegiate level but clearly likes the budding star. The coach reportedly viewed the opportunity to coach him as too good to pass up.

If Flagg elevates his game under May, and the Mavericks find more pieces through the draft, free agency and trades, their outlook will suddenly look much brighter. That would make Cuban even happier that Dallas hired the longtime college coach.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: