Mark Cuban is once again joining the basketball ownership ranks, only this time it’s coming north of the border. The Brampton Honey Badgers announced this week that the former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and star of “Shark Tank”, would be joining the Honey Badgers ownership group for the upcoming season.
Cuban has ties to the team through the basketball world having previously worked with Brampton CEO Al Whitley, and Anthem Sports and Entertainment owner Leonard Asper.
“I am thrilled that Mark has decided to formally join me on this journey after having already helped along the way, including introducing me to our current CEO Al Whitley,” said Asper. “No one brings more basketball knowledge and winning culture than Mark, and all of us at the Honey Badgers are honoured to have him join this organization.”
The billionaire entrepreneur adds some star power and deep pockets to the Brampton group. Both things that bode well for the long and short term success of the CEBL and the team alike. The 67 year old is no stranger to working with Canadian hoopers, having had longstanding relationships with the likes of Dwight Powell, Ryan Nembhard, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Dalano Banton, and Steve Nash to name a few.
“Canadian basketball is probably the most underappreciated in the world,” said Cuban. “The talent here is through the roof and getting better by the day. The CEBL offers all of Canada the chance to see that amazing talent on display in exciting games that are fun and affordable for the entire family. I’m excited to be part of this team, help build the Brampton fanbase, and to bring some of the same fun we had in Dallas to the Toronto area!”
It’s unclear whether fans can expect to see their new owner attend any games this summer, or whether Cuban will remain a mostly “silent partner” in the organization. Nevertheless, Brampton will undoubtedly be positioned for success both on and off the court, and will become one of the most stable franchises from a financial standpoint in the league overnight.
“I have had the honour and privilege to know and work with Mark Cuban for the last 25 years and I say without any hesitation, he is one-of-one,” said Whitley. “This is a historic and landmark day for our franchise. Mark’s business acumen, championship pedigree, and philanthropic endeavors make this relationship one that the Brampton Honey Badgers wholeheartedly cherish and are grateful for. We roll out the red carpet and welcome Mark into our ownership group with open arms!”
The Honey Badgers will officially kick off their 2026 season at home against the Ottawa BlackJacks on Friday May 15th. The game will tip off at 7:30pm ET at the CAA Centre and can be streamed on CBC Gem, YouTube, and CEBL+.
Photo: Gage Skidmore. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.