Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs are goin' ALL OUT to honor wounded U.S. troops Wednesday night ... 'cause they're flying in 120 soldiers and hookin' them up with courtside seats AND a fancy 4-course meal!!

The team announced it'll host its 14th annual Seats for Soldiers night ... and give away floor tix for the soldiers -- valued at around $350k.

"Our annual Seats for Soldiers night is a reminder that we don’t get to enjoy the game we love without the incredible sacrifices our soldiers make,” owner Mark Cuban says.

The team says the night will start with a truckload of food at Nick & Sam's in Dallas ... where they'll feed the troops a baller steak dinner (dessert's a 7-layer cake).

Then, it'll be off to the American Airlines Center ... where Cuban will hook up the men and women with some amazing seats for their tilt with the Utah Jazz.

In addition to the wounded troops sitting courtside, the Mavs tell us they're also hooking up over 1,000 veterans with free tickets to the game.

Dirk Nowitzki is a free agent ... but the 40-year-old legend tells TMZ Sports when it comes to the NBA, it's "Mavs for life."

Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks have already mutually agreed to opt out of Nowitzki's contract -- which included a $5 million option.

The team is expected to sign a new, cheaper deal with Dirk -- unless he decided to explore other NBA options.

But, when we spoke with Dirk on the way out of Craig's in West Hollywood over the weekend -- he seemingly shut down all other teams ... and let us know he's riding with Mark Cuban to the end!

Mark Cuban was just fined $600k by the NBA for openly admitting to tanking ... less than 24 hours after a bombshell report was released exposing "predatory sexual behavior" in the Mavs' workplace.

"Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined $600,000 for public statements detrimental to the NBA," the league said in a statement.

Cuban made his tanking comments on Dr. J's podcast earlier this week, saying -- "I'm probably not supposed to say this, but I just had dinner with a bunch of our guys the other night ... and I said, 'Look, losing is our best option.'"

The fine's chump change for a billionaire like Cuban ... but the timing couldn't be worse.

Sports Illustrated published an article Tuesday night alleging crude sexual harassment on the part of former Mavs president and CEO Terdema Ussery. The article also claims a former writer for the Mavs' website kept his job despite committing multiple acts of domestic assault.

One of Mark Cuban's "Shark Tank" business partners says the billionaire always acted like a consummate pro with her ... and she'd be SHOCKED if he really did know about the horrible things happening with the Dallas Mavs.

We spoke with Raven Thomas who got Mark to invest in her gourmet food business -- The Painted Pretzel -- during a 2012 episode of "Shark Tank."

Thomas had nothing but positive things to say about her 6-year work relationship with Cuban -- and says he's always been a respectful partner and honorable business owner.

In fact, Thomas says she was "shocked" by the allegations that the Mavs' front office was a nightmare for women ... saying, "I would be surprised, shocked if he had any knowledge of this and didn't do anything about it."

Thomas says she's also spoken with other people who work with Mark and has not heard anything negative about their experiences.

Mark Cuban says he's already begun firing and suspending Dallas Mavericks front office employees over a Sports Illustrated article that paints the company as a nightmare place for female employees.

The article came out late Tuesday and contains quotes from several current and former female employees who say they experienced sexual harassment and "predatory sexual behavior" while working with the Mavs.

Among the allegations in the article ... former Mavericks president and CEO Terdema Ussery allegedly told one female employee, "You're going to get gang-banged, aren't you?"

When the woman told Ussery she was actually going to the movies with friends he replied, "No, you're definitely getting gang-banged." Terdema has denied the allegations.

Another claim from the article ... a former Mavs website writer committed multiple acts of domestic assault, including against a female employee he was dating.

Both employees -- Ussery and the writer are no longer with the team.

Cuban has essentially said he didn't know about the alleged incidents -- claiming he would speak with his head of human resources and was assured he didn't have a problem in the Mavs organization.

When he learned of the incidents via the Sports Illustrated reporters, Cuban says he immediately took action -- hiring an independent law firm to investigate and a 3rd party company to handle harassment complaints.

Cuban says he's also fired his head of H.R.

"I want to deal with this issue," Cuban told SI ... adding, "There's a problem in the Mavericks organization and we've got to fix it."

At least one voting block is already behind Mark Cuban's possible 2020 presidential bid -- his players ... with Mavs vet, Devin Harris, telling TMZ Sports a Cuban country might not be a bad idea.

Cuban hasn't officially thrown his hat into the ring yet, but appeared on "OBJECTified" and told Harvey Levin he's considering challenging Donald Trump as a republican next go-around.

Harris has spent much of his 13-year NBA career playing under Cuban, and when we got him out at Warwick in L.A. earlier this week, we had to ask if he's down with M.C. taking his talents to D.C.

Devin doesn't exactly stump for Cuban, but does ask a question that some Americans will no doubt agree with (and others won't of course).

"Can he do any worse?"

Mark Cuban will challenge Donald Trump in the primaries ... IF he decides to run for President in 2020.

Cuban was profiled on the Fox News Channel show "OBJECTified" Sunday night, and he declared which party he'd choose if he were to run ... he says it'd be Republican.

The Mavericks owner says he's still deciding whether he'll throw his hat in the ring, and that a lot depends on whether his wife is down with the run.

Cuban had supported Trump early on in the last race but soured on him -- Cuban felt he wasn't serious about understanding important issues. He became a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton in the general.

All future ten digit pimps listen up ... Mark Cuban is about to tell you the how you shop for food when you have too much money to worry about normie stores (sorry Serena).

Cuban was out in NYC when our photog asked him a question that is strangely intriguing when you think about it ... how does Cuban shop for groceries.

If you think he grabs his basket and heads to Albertson's you're wrong ... but if you think he doesn't do his own shopping, you're also wrong.

DeAndre Jordan wants his quarterback, Tony Romo, in Los Angeles ... to play for the Clippers ... telling TMZ Sports he wishes Tony was suiting up for his squad, and not the Mavericks.

Why is anyone talking about Romo playing basketball? 'Cause Tony is actually suiting up for the Mavericks in the team's home finale -- FOR REAL -- as a special send-off from owner Mark Cuban.

Jordan is a HUGE Cowboys fan, so when we got him out in L.A. we had to ask about Romo's hoops debut, and Jordan made it clear ... he wishes it were with the Clippers.

Cool sentiment, but we're not sure if Lob City needs another guy who can't win the big one.

If Barack Obama wants to buy a piece of an NBA team ... now's his chance!

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says he's down to sell 10% of the franchise to the former President of the United States ... and he even names his price!

Of course, Obama has previously said he has real interest in becoming an NBA owner -- and has reportedly discussed being part of an ownership group.

The issues ... Cuban's price seems super high considering the recent sale prices of other NBA teams.

But maybe it's just the first number in a longer negotiation???? (Yeah, we've seen "Shark Tank").

The army veteran who was denied a free meal at Chili's on Veterans Day is getting HOOKED UP by Mark Cuban ... who just offered the guy 2 season tickets to Mavs games for the rest of the season!

Ernest Walker's story made national news -- he was dining at Chili's in Texas when the manager questioned his military service and took away his food. Walker recorded the incident on his phone.

Chili's eventually apologized -- but now, we've learned Cuban heard about the story and wanted to personally honor the vet ... so the Mavs owner made the following offer:

-- 2 season tickets to the Dallas Mavs games for the rest of the season

-- 10 bonus tickets to Wednesday night's game so Walker can bring 10 more vets!

-- 10 bonus tickets to most Mavs home games to give out to other vets and people in need

-- Cuban agreed to donate money to Ernest's campaign to feed 1 million soldiers

We spoke to Walker who says he's pumped about the offer and expressed his gratitude to Cuban when they talked on the phone earlier Wednesday.

Hey girl, heyyy, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's got your back ... telling TMZ Sports he'll never give in to haters who call his NBA camp for female fans sexist.

Cuban's team was flooded on social media after the Mavs tweeted about their annual 'NBA 101: Basketball for Women' camp. Tweeters and some mainstream media outlets ripped the event as being patronizing and politically incorrect.

TMZ Sports spoke to Cuban, who says, "We asked some of our customers a few years back if we should change the name. They requested we didn't."

By the way, the annual camp is in its 16th year ... and Cuban says the team has no plan to change the name. He adds they're prepared to add a second class if there's enough demand.

Good news for Mavs fans ... David Lee tells TMZ Sports he doesn't believe Dirk Nowitzki will leave Dallas for greener pastures ... despite the fact Dirk just opted out of his contract.

Instead of signing his option and returning to make $8.7 mil next season -- Dirk opted out and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. There are rumors he's considering going to the Golden State Warriors.

So, when we saw Dirk's Mavs teammate, David Lee, out in L.A. Friday -- we had to ask for his thoughts.

Lee gives a pretty compelling reason for why he thinks Dirk will be back in Big D next season.

Don't ever question Mark Cuban's work ethic -- 'cause the guy was so determined to make the Mavs a success after he bought the team, he PERSONALLY cold called hundreds of people to sell tickets.

It's a pretty impressive story ... Cuban says he's all about getting in the trenches and doing the work himself if duty calls -- and back when the Mavs sucked, duty definitely called.

One other thing ... Cuban says he respects the hell out of telemarketers -- and instead of hanging up on 'em (like most people), he listens to the pitch and offers feedback!!!

Mark Cuban says neither Khloe Kardashian nor Lamar Odom ever reported any sort of racist incidents to the team during L.O.'s stint with the Mavs ... despite Khloe's claims that people berated her in Dallas for being in an interracial marriage.

Damn, boss ... you are really riding my ass!

Mark Cuban takes his team bonding very, very seriously. Can't knock him for joining in on this dog pile though. Deron Williams hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer of double OT to defeat the Kings Tuesday night.