Dallas Mavericks founder Don Carter dead at 84

Don Carter, the Dallas Mavericks' original owner and co-founder, is dead.

He was 84.

Carter brought the expansion Mavericks to Dallas in 1981. He was the majority owner from the team's inception in 1980 through 1996.

“The entire Mavs family is heartbroken by the loss of Mr. Carter,” said current Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in a release. “Along with his wife, Mrs. Carter, they have been our guiding lights for the organization since its founding in 1980. To say he will be missed does not do justice to just how important Mr. C has been to the Dallas Mavericks and the City of Dallas. Our condolences go out to Mrs. Carter and the entire Carter family.”

He was so respected that when the Mavericks won the 2011 NBA title, Cuban wouldn't allow anyone to celebrate the trophy on stage until Carter touched it.

The Mavericks will honor Carter with a moment of silence during the Feb. 26 game against the Indiana Pacers and a special tribute at the second timeout of the first quarter.

Carter owned the Mavericks from 1980 until he sold it to Ross Perot Jr. in 1996 for $125 million. Cuban bought the franchise from Perot in 2000 for $285 million.

This story was originally published February 15, 2018 at 10:30 AM with the headline "Dallas Mavericks founder Don Carter dead at 84."