Masai Ujiri Named Dallas Mavericks President and Alternate Governor
The Dallas Mavericks have appointed Masai Ujiri as team president and alternate governor, placing him in charge of all basketball operations, including roster construction, player personnel, and scouting. Ujiri joins the Mavericks after a 13-year tenure with the Toronto Raptors, where he served as executive vice president and general manager from 2013 and was promoted to president in 2016. He was dismissed from the Raptors in June 2025.
"We are very excited about the future of our team." — Patrick Dumont, Mavericks Governor
Background and Tenure
Ujiri’s executive career includes previous roles with the Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic. He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012-13 season. Over 15 seasons as a lead executive, his teams compiled a 690-504 record and qualified for the playoffs 12 times.
While with the Toronto Raptors, Ujiri’s leadership coincided with the team’s 2019 NBA championship. Key player acquisitions and selections during his tenure included drafting DeMar DeRozan, Pascal Siakam, and Scottie Barnes, and trading for Kawhi Leonard.
Recent Mavericks Context
The Mavericks’ front office underwent significant changes following the trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. General manager Nico Harrison was fired early in the 2025-26 season, with Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi appointed as co-interim general managers.
The team finished the 2025-26 season with a 26-56 record and did not qualify for the playoffs. Subsequently, the Mavericks traded Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, and Jaden Hardy for financial flexibility. The team currently holds Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.
According to reports, Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban was not directly involved in Ujiri’s hiring process. The hiring was approved by Governor Patrick Dumont, who also hired former Golden State Warriors president Rick Welts as CEO in December 2024.
Statements
Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont stated: "The Dallas Mavericks are committed to being a world-class organization with a strong culture and focused on winning championships. Masai Ujiri is one of the great basketball leaders of this generation. We are very excited about the future of our team."
Masai Ujiri said: "I'm honored to join the Dallas Mavericks. 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. "
Additional Roles and Philanthropy
Ujiri founded the nonprofit organization "Giants of Africa" in 2003, which focuses on youth empowerment through basketball, education, and leadership development. In 2025, he was named a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocate. In 2026, he joined the ownership group of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo.