The Dallas Mavericks have hired Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations and alternate governor, the team announced Monday.
Ujiri, 55, joins Dallas after a 12-year run with the Toronto Raptors, where he oversaw one of the most successful stretches in franchise history. His tenure included multiple playoff appearances and the team’s first NBA championship in 2019.
“I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization,” Ujiri said in a statement provided by the Mavericks. “This is a franchise with a proud history, passionate fans, and a commitment to winning. I look forward to working with our players, coaches, and leadership team to build something that reflects that standard and competes at the highest level. We will win in Dallas.”
The hiring comes months after the Mavericks dismissed general manager Nico Harrison following a turbulent stretch that included the trade of franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić. The move sparked backlash among the fan base and coincided with a steep decline in the team’s performance.
Dallas governor Patrick Dumont prioritized experience in the search for new leadership. Sources told DLLS Sports’ Marc Stein that the Mavericks also explored candidates such as Bob Myers and Tim Connelly before ultimately securing Ujiri.
“The Dallas Mavericks are committed to being a world-class organization with a strong culture and focused on winning championships,” Dumont said in a statement. “Masai Ujiri is one of the great basketball leaders of this generation and his addition to our franchise is a critical step in meeting our goals. We are honored to have him join the Mavs family. We welcome his energy and determination along with his leadership, experience and many accomplishments as a basketball executive. We are very excited about the future of our team.”
Ujiri previously transformed Toronto into a consistent contender, highlighted by a 2019 title run following his high-profile trade for Kawhi Leonard. He also earned NBA Executive of the Year honors in 2013 during his time with the Denver Nuggets. He famously traded Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakim during his time running both franchises. Both trades netted a bevy of assets.
Before entering the front office, Ujiri played professionally in Europe and later worked as an international scout, eventually rising through the ranks in both Denver and Toronto.
He replaces Harrison and will oversee all basketball operations, including roster construction, coaching decisions and the front-office structure. Co-interim general managers Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley have handled those responsibilities since Harrison’s departure. Their futures — along with members of the coaching staff — are expected to be determined in the coming days. Sources told DLLS Sports that some Mavericks coaches and front-office personnel learned of Ujiri’s hiring shortly before the official announcement and remain uncertain about their status with the organization.
The Mavericks plan to introduce Ujiri at a news conference Tuesday. The move comes just days before the NBA draft lottery, where Dallas holds a chance to move into the top four for the second consecutive year after selecting Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025.
Flagg went on to win Rookie of the Year, joining Jason Kidd and Dončić as the only players in franchise history to earn the honor.
Ujiri now takes over a team coming off a 26-56 season and faces immediate questions about the roster’s direction, the future of coach Jason Kidd and upcoming personnel decisions as the Mavericks attempt to return to contention.
