In a shocking twist that has left the NBA and the business world in shock, the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, owned by Mark Cuban, has reportedly lost more than $200 million in sponsorships. This, following a call for a boycott led by Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla, SpaceX and owner of X (formerly Twitter).

The confrontation between Elon Musk and Mark Cuban seems to have escalated from a series of comments on X, where both tycoons exchanged criticisms on political and economic issues. Musk, known for his direct and often controversial approach, launched a call to Mavericks fans and sponsors to reconsider their support of the team.

In a tweet that quickly went viral, Musk wrote:

“Support for certain divisive figures has consequences. Boycotting the Mavericks is one way to send a clear message: business should not mix politics with sport.”
The reaction was immediate. According to sources close to the team, several companies have pulled their key sponsorships, including deals with tech and consumer brands. This blow represents a massive loss of revenue for the Mavericks, who are already facing challenges in the highly competitive sports market.

Among the companies that have reportedly canceled their deals are big-name sponsors who cite the controversy as a reason for distancing themselves from the team.

Mark Cuban was quick to respond to Musk’s actions. In a recent interview, Cuban called the boycott “an unnecessary and irresponsible attack” that hurts both the team and the local community that relies on the Mavericks for employment and entertainment.

“It’s disappointing to see someone use their platform to destroy instead of build. This is not about the Mavericks, it’s about the people who work hard to keep this team running.”
Social media has been ablaze with divided opinions. While some support Musk for exposing the relationship between politics and sports, others consider his intervention to be an abuse of power and a personal attack on Cuban.

Notable comments include:

“Elon is right. Sports should be kept off the political agenda.”
“This is dirty play. Musk is using his influence to destroy those who disagree with him.”
This conflict could set a dangerous precedent for the NBA and other sports leagues. The ability of public figures like Elon Musk to directly influence team finances raises questions about the outsized power of billionaires in the public sphere.

Can the Mavericks recover from this financial blow? Are new tensions brewing between Cuban and Musk?