Mavericks Name Masai Ujiri President And Alternate Governor
DALLAS, Texas. The Dallas Mavericks named Masai Ujiri team president and alternate governor, giving the former Toronto Raptors championship executive control of basketball operations as Dallas tries to steady a franchise entering a new phase around Cooper Flagg.
The Mavericks said in their official announcement, carried by NBA.com, that Ujiri will oversee roster construction, player personnel, scouting, basketball philosophy, and the club's long-term direction. The title also makes him alternate governor, putting him inside the franchise's top leadership structure as Dallas moves beyond a turbulent stretch for its front office.
What Happened
Dallas announced the hire May 4, according to the team statement posted by the Mavericks and NBA.com. The club said Ujiri will work with team leadership while running all aspects of basketball operations, a broad mandate that reaches from draft evaluation to roster building and organizational standards.
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont framed the move as a culture and championship decision. Dumont said the franchise is trying to be a world-class organization, and he called Ujiri's addition "a critical step" toward that goal.
Ujiri arrives after a long run in Toronto. NBA.com said he joined the Raptors in 2013 as executive vice president and general manager, became president in 2016, and later gave up the general manager title when Bobby Webster took over in 2017. Toronto won its only NBA championship in 2019 during Ujiri's tenure.
NBA.com said Toronto parted ways with Ujiri in June 2025 after 13 seasons. Keith Pelley, president and chief executive of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, credited Ujiri at the time with transforming the Raptors on the court and serving as an off-court leader.
Ujiri also brings earlier front office experience from Denver. NBA.com said he began as an international scout with the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets before rising to lead basketball operations in Denver, where he was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012-13 season.
The Response
Dallas' ownership presented the hire as a reset with championship expectations. Dumont said the Mavericks wanted a leader with experience, energy, and a record of accomplishment as a basketball executive.
Ujiri's public message centered on the size of the Dallas opportunity. In the team's announcement, he said he was honored to join the Mavericks at an important moment for the organization and said Dallas has a proud history, passionate fans, and a commitment to winning.
The team context begins with Flagg. NBA.com said Dallas landed the No. 1 pick despite a 1.8% chance in the lottery, then watched Flagg win Rookie of the Year after a 56-loss season. At his introductory news conference, Ujiri tied the rebuild to both patience and pressure, saying the organization had to reset with its fans and that winning was the route back.
Toronto's response, when the franchise moved on from Ujiri last year, offered a second institutional view of his record. Pelley said Ujiri brought a championship to Toronto and helped change how the organization saw itself. The Raptors also said at the time that they would begin a search for his successor immediately, while Webster had received a contract extension.
The broader basketball question is how much of Ujiri's Toronto formula can travel. The Raptors' 2019 title came from years of roster development, a major trade for Kawhi Leonard, and a bet on a two-way identity. Dallas is handing Ujiri a different starting point, with a young centerpiece, an unsettled recent history, and ownership that has publicly set a championship standard.
What People Are Saying
"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 and his addition to our franchise is a critical step in meeting our goals."
Patrick Dumont, Mavericks governor, via the Dallas Mavericks official announcement carried by NBA.com
"I'm honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization."
Masai Ujiri, Mavericks president and alternate governor, via the Dallas Mavericks official announcement carried by NBA.com
"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."
Masai Ujiri, Mavericks president and alternate governor, via the Dallas Mavericks official announcement carried by NBA.com
"During his 13 seasons with the Raptors, Masai has helped transform the organization on the court and has been an inspirational leader off it." - Keith Pelley, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and chief executive, via NBA.com
The Big Picture
Ujiri's first tests in Dallas are practical, not ceremonial. The Mavericks' announcement gives him authority over the personnel pipeline, scouting structure, roster philosophy, and basketball operations, which means his early decisions will show how much continuity he keeps and where he wants a clean break.
The next checkpoints are the front office structure beneath Ujiri, the development plan around Flagg, and Dallas' approach to free agency and trades. The official announcement gives the Mavericks a new power center. The roster decisions that follow will show what kind of basketball operation Ujiri is building in Dallas.
