Full Breakdown
Mavericks Hire Masai Ujiri as President and Alternate Governor
5/6/2026, 2:28:32 AM
The Appointment
Dallas announced on May 4 2026 that Masai Ujiri, the former Toronto Raptors president and architect of the 2019 NBA championship, will serve as the Mavericks’ team president and alternate governor. In the role he will oversee all basketball-operations functions—including roster construction, player-personnel decisions and scouting—while reporting to governor Patrick Dumont. A press conference introducing Ujiri is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5.
Background: From the Luka Trade to a New Direction
The hire follows a turbulent 2025-26 season. After a 3-8 start, general manager Nico Harrison was dismissed on Nov. 11 2025 amid intense fan backlash over the February 2025 trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered on Anthony Davis. The Mavericks subsequently moved Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Jaden Hardy to Washington, creating salary-cap flexibility but leaving the franchise without its former cornerstone. Co-interim GMs Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi ran day-to-day operations until the Ujiri hire. The team finished 26-56, the worst record since 2017-18, and entered the 2026 NBA draft lottery with the eighth-best odds.
Key Figures Steering the Transition
- Masai Ujiri (55) – 13 seasons with the Raptors, former Denver Nuggets GM, NBA Executive of the Year (2012-13). Founder of the Giants of Africa nonprofit and 2025 UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate.
- Patrick Dumont – Mavericks governor who led the six-month executive search.
- Mark Cuban – Minority owner who sold his majority stake in Dec 2023 but publicly endorsed the hire.
- Michael Finley & Matt Riccardi – Co-interim GMs during the search; their future roles remain under discussion.
- Jason Kidd – Head coach since 2021; his status was not confirmed at the press conference.
Timeline of Recent Moves
- Dec 2023 – Mark Cuban sells majority stake to the Adelson-Dumont families.
- Dec 2024 – Former Warriors president Rick Welts hired as Mavericks CEO.
- Nov 11 2025 – GM Nico Harrison fired.
- Feb 2025 – Luka Doncic traded to the Lakers.
- May 4 2026 – Ujiri hired as president/alternate governor.
- May 10 2026 – NBA draft lottery.
Numbers Shaping the Rebuild
- 2025-26 record: 26-56 (12th in the West).
- Draft-lottery odds: 6.7 % for the No. 1 pick and 29 % for a top-4 slot (source 33) versus “eighth-best odds” reported elsewhere (source 25).
- Ujiri’s career record as an executive: 690-504, 12 playoff appearances in 15 seasons.
- Current assets: two first-round picks (own lottery pick and No. 30 from Washington) and a second-round pick; no control of first-round selections beyond 2026 until 2031.
Why the Hire Matters
The appointment signals a strategic pivot from the short-term, Doncic-centric window to a long-term rebuild anchored by Rookie-of-the-Year Cooper Flagg. Ujiri’s reputation for bold roster resets and talent-development pipelines is expected to restore credibility with a fan base still reeling from the 2025 trade. His global profile (Giants of Africa, WNBA Toronto Tempo ownership) also aligns with the Mavericks’ broader brand-building goals.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Dumont emphasized the franchise’s commitment to a “world-class organization with a strong culture and focus on winning championships,” calling Ujiri “one of the great basketball leaders of this generation.” Ujiri expressed honor in joining “at such an important time,” pledging to work with players, coaches and leadership to “build something that reflects that standard and competes at the highest level.” Mark Cuban added that Ujiri’s experience and championship pedigree make him “the right move” for Dallas.
Criticism & Opposition
Fans protested the Doncic trade, chanting “fire Harrison” and demanding accountability for the roster’s collapse. The trade’s fallout was cited as a primary factor behind Harrison’s dismissal and the subsequent leadership overhaul.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Draft odds differ between a 6.7 % chance at No. 1 (source 33) and a generic “eighth-best odds” description (source 25).
- Coaching future: Ujiri declined to confirm whether head coach Jason Kidd will remain, leaving the coaching situation unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Dallas Mavericks are committed to being a world-class organization with a strong culture and focused on winning championships,” — Patrick Dumont, Governor
- “I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization.” — Masai Ujiri, President
- “We will win in Dallas.” — Masai Ujiri
- “I had a conversation with Jason Kidd yesterday, and I will meet with (him). He’s a Hall of Fame player who has done a great job, but we’re going to look at it from head-to-toe. That’s the right way to look at an organization and evaluate it in every single way that we can. I talked to him, and I will hear his thoughts on where he sees us.” — Masai Ujiri, press conference
- “I like it. He has experience. He has won. Most importantly, the owner he had in Toronto is very similar to Patrick Dumont,” — Mark Cuban, owner
What’s Next
The Mavericks will enter the draft lottery on May 10, after which Ujiri is expected to name a full-time general manager and begin shaping a roster around Flagg, a healthy Kyrie Irving and the newly acquired draft assets. The offseason will test Ujiri’s ability to translate his championship-building playbook to a franchise in transition.
