TITLE: Masai Ujiri vows to steady Mavericks, build around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg
SLUG: ujiri-mavericks-focus-on-cooper-flagg
CONTENT:
Dallas, May 5, 2026 — Newly appointed Dallas Mavericks president and alternate governor Masai Ujiri used his introductory news conference Tuesday to pledge stability after a turbulent 15-month stretch and to place rising star Cooper Flagg at the center of the franchise’s plans.
“I hope to bring calm,” Ujiri told reporters at the team’s practice court inside American Airlines Center, moments after comforting his 5-year-old son on stage. “We have a little prince here. Now we’re going to turn him into a king.”
Turning the page
The Mavericks’ front office has been in flux since former general manager Nico Harrison traded four-time All-Star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for veteran center Anthony Davis nine months after Dallas fell to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals. Following a slow start to the 2025-26 season, Harrison was dismissed, and interim co-general managers Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley later sent Davis to the Washington Wizards. Hampered by injuries, Davis appeared in just 29 games across two seasons.
Despite only a 1.8 percent chance of winning last year’s lottery, Dallas selected Flagg first overall. The former Duke forward endured a 56-loss debut season but captured Rookie of the Year honors.
Leadership changes
Ujiri, 55, arrives after 13 seasons overseeing basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors, where he won Executive of the Year in Denver (2013) and an NBA championship in Toronto (2019). He was dismissed by the Raptors last June following five consecutive seasons without a first-round playoff victory.
Team governor Patrick Dumont, who faced fan backlash over recent moves, said Ujiri’s hire signals a fresh start. “I’m looking for Masai now to help lead us to a championship and create a great team with great character,” Dumont stated.
Jason Kidd’s status
Ujiri declined to confirm whether head coach Jason Kidd, who signed an extension during the 2024 Finals run, will return. He noted that previous coaches George Karl in Denver and Dwane Casey in Toronto stayed multiple seasons after he took control of those franchises. “I’m going to hear Coach Jason Kidd out,” Ujiri said. “I have to follow a process here.”
Looking ahead
Kyrie Irving, sidelined all season after tearing an ACL in March 2025, is expected to join Flagg on the court next year. “I think it’s going to be pretty cool, and I know it’s going to help Cooper because Kyrie likes to play off the ball, too,” Ujiri remarked.
The Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance to win next week’s draft lottery as they aim to avoid missing the playoffs for a third straight season, something the franchise last endured in 2019.
Source: ESPN.com
