In a surprising turn of events, it has been confirmed that Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is selling a majority stake in the franchise. The prospective buyers are the Adelson and Dumont families, prominent figures in the business and casino industry. Despite the sale, Cuban is expected to retain control as the team's controlling owner.

Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein and The Athletic's Shams Charania broke the news of the impending transaction. Miriam Adelson, the largest shareholder of the Las Vegas Sands, has decided to invest in the sports industry by purchasing a stake in the Mavericks. She recently sold about $2 billion worth of stock in her company to facilitate this acquisition, according to CNBC.

The Adelson family, accompanied by Sands president and COO Patrick Dumont, released a joint statement confirming their entry into "binding purchase agreements" to acquire a majority ownership of the Dallas Mavericks. In their statement, they expressed admiration for the franchise's success, global recognition, and passionate fanbase. Furthermore, they emphasized their commitment to building a winning team that represents the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The Dallas Mavericks have been evaluated by Forbes at approximately $4.5 billion, cementing their status as the league's seventh-most valuable team. In contrast, the Golden State Warriors topped the list with an estimated worth of $7.7 billion. Miriam Adelson, regarded as the fifth-richest woman globally, inherited a significant stake in Las Vegas Sands following her husband's passing in 2021.

Interestingly, Cuban had previously voiced his desire to relocate the Mavericks to a new arena nestled within a resort and casino setting. To bring this vision to life, Cuban hoped to collaborate with Las Vegas Sands, the largest casino company globally. Partnering with Adelson and Sands could potentially pave the way for this ambitious project. However, it's worth noting that sports betting and casinos are currently not legal in Texas. The Mavericks have been playing their home games at the American Airlines Center since 2001, situated in downtown Dallas.

Mark Cuban originally purchased the Dallas Mavericks back in 2000 for a sum of approximately $285 million. Under his ownership, the Mavericks have experienced considerable success, making the playoffs in all but five seasons and culminating in their historic NBA championship win against the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, in 2011. Currently, with head coach Jason Kidd at the helm, the Mavericks boast a commendable record of 10-6 this season.

In light of these developments, Mark Cuban also announced his decision to depart from the hit TV show "Shark Tank" after the 16th season, which will air next year. Cuban first appeared as a guest entrepreneur on the show in 2011 and has since become a regular "shark" on the popular CNBC program.

As the Adelson and Dumont families prepare to take over a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks, basketball fans and analysts eagerly await further details on the future of the franchise and its potential relocation plans.