Mavericks hire Masai Ujiri as president and alternate governor
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Dallas — May 4, 2026: The Dallas Mavericks have named Masai Ujiri their new team president and alternate governor, ending a six-month search for a lead basketball executive with championship credentials, the club announced Monday.
Ujiri, 55, built the Toronto Raptors’ 2018-19 title team and earned NBA Executive of the Year honors in 2012-13 while running the Denver Nuggets. Across 15 seasons heading basketball operations in Denver and Toronto, his teams compiled a 690-504 record and reached the postseason 12 times.
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont and Ujiri plan to address reporters Tuesday in Dallas. “Masai Ujiri is one of the great basketball leaders of this generation and his addition is a critical step in meeting our goals,” Dumont said in a statement. “We are very excited about the future of our team.”
Search emphasized experience
Since acquiring majority control of the franchise in December 2023, Dumont has targeted established executives. In December 2024 he lured Hall of Famer Rick Welts out of retirement to serve as chief executive officer. According to league sources, Dallas also explored candidates such as Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly but doubted Minnesota would allow formal talks.
Dumont first met Ujiri during a four-hour lunch in Las Vegas in December. Further discussions with Welts and president of business operations Ethan Casson followed before Dallas formalized the offer. Ujiri spent this season away from the league after parting with Toronto following the 2025 draft.
Front-office turnover in Dallas
The lead basketball position opened when Dumont dismissed general manager Nico Harrison on Nov. 11 after a 3-8 start and heavy fan backlash from trading perennial All-NBA guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025. Interim co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi steered the front office the rest of the season and interviewed for the permanent role; Dumont informed them over the weekend that the organization would go in another direction.
Dallas pivoted to a long-term rebuild around 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who captured Rookie of the Year honors. The club also dealt Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards before the February trade deadline, a move designed to clear salary space. Dallas finished 26-56, holding the league’s eighth-best lottery odds and two first-round selections in June’s draft: its own lottery pick and No. 30 from Washington.
Ujiri’s background
Ujiri entered the NBA as a scout in 2002 after playing overseas for a decade. His draft résumé includes All-Stars DeMar DeRozan, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. He founded the nonprofit Giants of Africa in 2003 to develop youth basketball across the continent and joined the ownership group of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo last month.
“This is a franchise with a proud history, passionate fans and a commitment to winning,” Ujiri said in a statement. “We will win in Dallas.”
Source: ESPN
