By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Texas Metro News
With all sincerity and determination in his voice, new Dallas Mavericks President/Alternate Governor Masai Ujiri said the team will return to its winning aways and the pain still felt from the Luka Doncic trade will be erased
“I want to be very respectful,” Ujiri said during his introductory press conference this week at American Airlines Center. “Yes, there’s a healing that has to occur,” he said of the beloved Doncic who was traded two years ago in a move that shocked the NBA landscape.
“Luka’s a future hall of famer. That’s the past. In Africa, we say, when kings go, kings come. A king went. We have a new prince here, that we’re going to turn into a king. And I think we have to start thinking that way. I hope we can figure out how we reach that as an organization with the fans, with the community and reset.”
The Mavs, still reeling from the fallout surrounding Luka’s trade, including the firing of Nico Harrison, have turned to one of the NBA’s most accomplished architects to lead their next chapter.
Ujiri, who won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors, will oversee all aspects of the Mavericks’ basketball operations, including roster construction, player personnel, and scouting, while working with team leadership to shape the organization’s basketball philosophy and long-term direction.
Ujiri went through a logical progression of reasons why he took the job to the Mavericks who have struggled since making the Finals in 2024, and missed the playoffs this year.
“You got (Victor) Wembanyama for the next 15 years, Luka (Doncic) for the next 10, 12, 15 years,” Ujiri said. “Anthony Edwards, 10 12, 15 years. Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), 10, 12, 15 years. (Nikola) Jokic, 5, 7 years.
“Now, you have to convince me that I have to beat all those guys, OK? You have to come with something in your pocket. And in his (Mavs Governor Patrick Dumont) pocket, he had Cooper Flagg. And I said yes.
“This is a tough league with tough young players coming up. And we got one of them. We have to do a great job of surrounding him and giving him the opportunities to be great.”
Ujiri joins the Mavericks with more than a decade of experience leading NBA front offices, most recently serving as Vice Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors, where he led the franchise to its first NBA Championship in 2019. Widely regarded for his ability to build competitive rosters and develop talent, Ujiri has consistently positioned his teams for long-term success while maintaining flexibility and discipline.
Beyond basketball operations, Ujiri is the founder of Giants of Africa, a nonprofit organization he launched in 2003 focused on empowering youth across the continent through basketball, education, and leadership development. In 2025, he was named a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocate, further reflecting his global impact.
“I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization,” said Ujiri. “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.”
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