Masai Ujiri has built a reputation on bold resets.
He has torn down rosters when necessary to construct contenders and the Dallas Mavericks are betting that philosophy can stabilize a franchise at a crossroads.
Like Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Ujiri has long been viewed as a risk-taker, willing to make aggressive, franchise-altering decisions in pursuit of a title.
Dallas announced Monday that it has hired Ujiri as president of basketball operations and alternate governor, charging him with reshaping a team still dealing with the fallout from trading Luka Dončić.
Ujiri’s resume is defined by decisive moves. In 2018, he traded franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard, a one-year acquisition widely expected to leave for Los Angeles in free agency. Weeks earlier, Ujiri had dismissed coach Dwane Casey — who would go on to win NBA Coach of the Year — and elevated assistant Nick Nurse.
The gamble paid off. Before departing for the Los Angeles Clippers, Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship.
Ujiri is expected to be introduced at a news conference Tuesday. Below is a timeline of his NBA career:
MASAI UJIRI | Career Timeline New Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations and alternate governor
BY THE NUMBERS
| Stat | Before Ujiri (18 seasons) | Under Ujiri (12 seasons) |
| Win percentage | .407 (26th) | .565 (5th) |
| Playoff berths | 5 | 8 |
| Playoff wins | 11 | 46 |
| Championships | 0 | 1 |
Pre-2003 — Played professionally in Europe before transitioning to the front office as an international scout with the Orlando Magic.
2003 — Joined the Denver Nuggets as an international scout.
2007–08 — Hired by the Toronto Raptors as director of international scouting. Promoted to assistant GM by 2008.
2010 — Returned to Denver as GM and executive vice president of basketball operations, becoming the first African GM in major American professional sports. The Nuggets went 50-32 in his first full season.
Feb 2011 — Orchestrated the blockbuster Carmelo Anthony trade.
Knicks receive: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman
Nuggets receive: Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Raymond Felton, four draft picks (including the selection used on Jamal Murray), $3 million in cash
May 2013 — Named NBA Executive of the Year after Denver won 57 games, tied for the franchise’s best since joining the league.
TORONTO RAPTORS ERA (2013–2025)
May 2013 — Rejoined the Raptors as executive vice president and GM on a five-year, $15 million deal.
December 2013 — Traded Rudy Gay to Sacramento in a widely questioned move. Toronto responded by posting the NBA’s fourth-best record the rest of the way, kicking off a franchise-record seven consecutive playoff appearances.
July 2018 — Made his boldest move, shipping fan favorite DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard — a one-year rental widely expected to leave for Los Angeles. Weeks earlier, fired Coach of the Year Dwane Casey, replacing him with assistant Nick Nurse.
June 2019 — Toronto defeated Golden State in six games to win the franchise’s first NBA championship. Leonard’s buzzer-beater against Philadelphia and his Finals MVP performance validated every uncomfortable decision Ujiri had made.
2021 — Signed a five-year extension with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. The Raptors also drafted Scottie Barnes fourth overall that summer.
2023-24 — Traded O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam in a retooling effort. Toronto missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons — the longest drought of his tenure — and finished 30-52 in 2024-25.
2025 — Parted ways with Toronto Raptors.
