Nigerian-born basketball executive Masai Ujiri has been appointed as the new team president and alternate governor of the Dallas Mavericks, signaling a fresh chapter for the franchise as it looks to rebuild following the controversial Luka Doncic trade.
Ujiri, 55, brings a wealth of experience and global recognition to Dallas, having previously led the Toronto Raptors to their historic 2018–19 NBA championship. He masterminded the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs, a bold move that paid off with a title during Leonard’s only season with the team.
His appointment comes after the dismissal of former general manager Nico Harrison in November, a decision made months after the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. The deal failed to meet expectations, largely due to Davis’ persistent injury struggles during his time in Dallas.
Before his move to Texas, Ujiri spent 13 seasons with the Raptors organization, rising from executive vice president and general manager to president and vice chairman. Despite early success, including multiple playoff appearances after the championship win, he was relieved of his duties in June last year.
The Mavericks confirmed that Ujiri will oversee all basketball operations and help guide the long-term vision of the franchise alongside team leadership.
“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,” Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont said. “We welcome his energy and determination along with his leadership, experience and many accomplishments as a basketball executive.”
During the transition period after Harrison’s departure, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi served as co-general managers. They completed a February deal that sent Anthony Davis to Washington after injuries limited him to just 29 games over two seasons.
Ujiri now inherits a reshaped Mavericks roster headlined by Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft. Dallas secured the top selection despite just a 1.8% probability in the lottery and currently holds a 6.7% chance in this year’s draw.
Although the Mavericks have missed the playoffs in the past two seasons, the team still has the potential to contend. Dallas reached the 2024 NBA Finals behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving but fell to Boston in five games.
A key decision for Ujiri will be whether to retain Irving, who has yet to play alongside Flagg after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in March 2025. If kept, the duo would form a notable partnership of former Duke standouts.
The squad also features promising young center Dereck Lively II, whose development has been slowed by injuries, and veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion who finished the season strongly from beyond the arc, ranking fourth all-time in three-pointers made.
Forward P.J. Washington remains an important piece following his contributions during the Finals run, while Naji Marshall has grown into a reliable scoring option amid injuries across the roster.
Beyond basketball, Ujiri is widely respected for his impact off the court. He is the co-founder of Giants of Africa, a nonprofit established in 2003 to empower young people across Africa through basketball, education, and leadership development. His journey in the NBA began as an international scout with Orlando and Denver before he rose to lead basketball operations for the Nuggets. More recently, he became part of the ownership group of a WNBA expansion team in Toronto.
“I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization,” Ujiri said. “This is a franchise with a proud history, passionate fans, and a commitment to winning. We will win in Dallas.”
