Mark Cuban Banned from Courtside Seat Behind Mavs Bench

Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban has announced that his days of sitting behind the team’s bench during road games are officially over—and it wasn’t his decision.

Mark Cuban, much like his NFL counterpart Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, is undeniably one of the most recognizable and outspoken owners in professional sports. As one of the NBA’s first billionaire owners, Cuban’s approach to team ownership was a stark departure from the norm, redefining what it meant to be a "hands-on" owner.

But Cuban’s unconventional style of ownership—enthusiastic cheering, on-court interactions with players, and loud sideline rants—never sat well with the league’s powers that be. Despite his immense wealth and influence, Cuban was regularly fined by the NBA for various breaches of league rules, particularly those surrounding sideline behavior. Yet, for all the fines and criticisms, Cuban’s courtside seat became synonymous with the Mavericks’ identity—especially during road games, where his larger-than-life presence was as much a part of the action as the players themselves.

Cuban, who had become an iconic figure in the NBA as both a passionate owner and an unapologetically vocal presence at games, revealed that the league has now officially banned him from sitting courtside near the Mavs’ bench during away games.

"Mark Cuban Claims NBA Has Banned Him from His Iconic Seat at Mavericks Games"

“The NBA got really, really, really petty and said that I can’t sit behind the bench anymore,” Cuban quipped, a mixture of frustration and resignation in his tone. Cuban, whose net worth stands at a staggering $5.7 billion, acknowledged that his courtside seat on the road had technically violated league rules throughout his tenure as majority owner. But the NBA had allowed him to continue his unorthodox practice—until now. “Now that I’m no longer the majority owner, they’re finally taking advantage of it,” Cuban added. "It’s one of those things where they’ve been waiting for a chance to pull this off, and now they’ve got it.”

The ban represents more than just a personal setback for Cubans—it’s a symbol of the shifting dynamics in sports ownership. As the NBA continues to modernize its operations, the days of owners acting as active participants in the game from the sidelines may be drawing to a close. For now, Cuban will have to find a new way to channel his passion for the Mavericks—one that doesn't involve sitting courtside during road games.

But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Mark Cuban won’t fade into the background quietly. Whether or not he’s allowed to sit behind the bench, one thing is clear: his love for the Mavericks—and for the game—remains as strong as ever.