Billionaire entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban has purchased an ownership stake in the Brampton Honey Badgers, marking a major boost for professional basketball in Brampton.
The Honey Badgers compete in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), a 10-team professional and developmental basketball league based entirely in Canada.
The announcement was made during a Brampton city council meeting on May 6 by Honey Badgers CEO Al Whitley, who previously worked with Cuban during his time with the Mavericks organization.
“I’ve worked for Mark and had a relationship with him for the last 25 years,” Whitley said in an interview following the announcement. “Mark and our owner Leonard Asper have been business partners for multiple years.”
Whitley said Cuban has long been a supporter of Canadian basketball and has a strong interest in the Greater Toronto Area sports market.
“Mark is a big fan of Canadian basketball and a huge fan of the GTA area. I think this makes the most sense for him,” Whitley said, adding Cuban hopes to attend Honey Badgers games in Brampton this summer.
Financial terms of the agreement and the size of Cuban’s ownership stake were not disclosed.
The Honey Badgers were founded in Hamilton as one of the CEBL’s original six franchises before relocating to Brampton in 2023. The team currently plays home games at the CAA Centre.
Whitley described Cuban’s involvement as the beginning of “a new era” for the organization.
“We want to be champions on and off the court and that takes impactful connections in the community,” he said.
Cuban, widely known for his role on the television show Shark Tank and his long-time involvement in the NBA, is regarded as one of the most recognizable owners in professional sports.
The move is expected to bring increased visibility and attention to both the Honey Badgers and the growing popularity of professional basketball in Brampton and across Canada.