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Did you ever think Cuban would sell the Mavericks?

THE STEIN LINE: Definitely not.

Never.

Is there something stronger than never?

I was Mavericks beat writer for The Dallas Morning News on Jan. 4, 2000, when Cuban bought the franchise from Ross Perot Jr. and so I’ve had a pretty close-range seat throughout his tenure. In the nearly 25 years since he loudly emerged as the most boisterous and authority-challenging ownership presence in NBA history, I’ve repeatedly told anyone who asked that, on this scorecard, owning the Mavericks was Cuban’s true and most cherished identity no matter where else he found fame or business success. Broadcast.com and Shark Tank and even his new industry-changing Cost Plus Drugs would come to be regarded as secondary entries on his résumé no matter how wildly successful they proved to be.

Owning the Mavericks is what made Cuban famous and infamous, loved in some corners and loathed in plenty more, as synonymous with the franchise as any owner gets. I’ve long believed that mortality was the lone force that could separate him from his beloved Mavs.

Does Cuban’s recent announcement that the next season of Shark Tank will be his last have anything to do with this?

THE STEIN LINE: No.

That news and Tuesday’s sale bombshell were not nearly as connected as many news outlets painted.

Cuban actually made the disclosure that the upcoming 16th season of Shark Tank will be his last on an All The Smoke podcast appearance last week with hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. For some reason Cuban’s revelation didn’t get much national traction until Monday … on the day before I reported his sale agreement with the Adelson family.