Mavs, Donnie Nelson Reach Resolution As Lawsuit Dismissed

The wrongful termination lawsuit between Donnie Nelson and the Dallas Mavericks is officially closed, dismissed “with prejudice” per court records out of Dallas County.

This basically means it’s over — no coming back from this one, no refiling allowed. The case was initially set for a December trial, but it’s now been resolved on confidential terms, according to Nelson’s attorney, Rogge Dunn, who confirmed the settlement to ESPN.

To rewind, Nelson, a key figure in the Mavericks’ front office for over two decades, claimed his 2021 firing was more than a simple decision about basketball. He alleged that he was let go after reporting that Mark Cuban’s “right-hand person” sexually assaulted his nephew during the 2020 All-Star Weekend. This wasn’t just about job performance; it was about serious, personal accusations that Nelson felt were ignored.

Now, with the case settled, the Mavericks avoid the public airing of what could’ve been some unsettling claims, a saga that, if it had gone to trial, might have cast a long shadow over the franchise’s efforts to build a solid, scandal-free culture. But because the terms are confidential, we’re left in the dark on specifics.

For Cuban and the Mavs, though, this likely marks the end of a chapter they’d much rather keep closed.

• More Mavericks | All coverage from Hoops Wire