The Dallas Mavericks have made a defining move for their future, hiring Masai Ujiri as President and Alternate Governor for the franchise.
Ujiri, one of the NBA’s most respected executives, will take full control of basketball operations in Dallas. His responsibilities will include roster construction, player personnel decisions, and overseeing scouting, while also collaborating with ownership to establish the team’s long-term identity and championship vision.
Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont emphasized the significance of the hire, calling it a major step toward building an organization that is capable of winning a championship. He highlighted Ujiri’s leadership, track record, and ability to create a winning culture as key reasons the franchise pursued him to help guide its future.
“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,” said Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont. “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 arrives in Dallas with a proven resume, mostly due to his tenure with the Toronto Raptors, where he served as Vice Chairman and President. Under his leadership, the Raptors captured their first NBA title in 2019, a defining achievement that cemented his reputation as one of the league’s elite team builders. Known for his disciplined approach and eye for talent, Ujiri has consistently constructed competitive rosters while maintaining long-term flexibility.
One of Ujiri’s defining strengths has been his eye for international talent. Dating back to his early days as a global scout, he has consistently identified and elevated players from across the world, helping reshape how teams evaluate talent beyond traditional pipelines. His global perspective gives Dallas an edge in uncovering undervalued prospects and expanding its reach in an increasingly international league.
Ujiri has also been a strong advocate for investing in and maximizing the value of a franchise’s G League affiliate. During his time in Toronto, the Raptors’ developmental system became one of the NBA’s gold standards, consistently producing rotation-level contributors. Expect the Mavericks to further emphasize their G League pipeline as a critical extension of the roster, creating a sustainable pathway for young players to develop and contribute.
Player development has long been a cornerstone of Ujiri’s philosophy. Rather than relying solely on star acquisitions, his teams have thrived by identifying raw talent and nurturing it into impactful pieces. That commitment to growth from end-of-bench players to rising stars aligns with Dallas’ current roster makeup and should help maximize the potential of both established contributors and emerging talent.
Ujiri’s reputation as a calculated yet bold dealmaker also adds another dimension to Dallas’ future. He has never shied away from making aggressive trades when the opportunity presents itself, but always with a clear long-term vision in mind. Whether it’s acquiring a missing piece or reshaping the roster, his ability to strike the right balance between patience and decisiveness has been a hallmark of his succes
Dallas’ roster gives Ujiri a strong foundation to build upon. The Mavericks are anchored by reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, a dynamic duo that blends rising superstar potential with proven elite shot creation. Surrounding them is a group of dependable role players in Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Dereck Lively II, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, who provide depth and versatility, along with a valuable 2026 lottery pick that offers another opportunity to add high-end talent. With that mix of youth, experience, and flexibility, Dallas is positioned to accelerate its climb back into serious contention.
Franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki has also expressed support for the move.
A notable endorsement given his deep ties to the organization and its culture. Nowitzki’s approval reflects a belief that Ujiri’s leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence align with the standard he helped establish in Dallas. His backing only adds to the growing sense of optimism surrounding this new era of Mavericks basketball.
“This is a franchise with a proud history and a passionate fan base,” Ujiri said. “I’m excited to get to work with the players, coaches, and leadership group to build something that reflects excellence and competes at the highest level. We will win in Dallas.”
Before becoming one of the NBA’s premier executives, Ujiri began his career as an international scout with the Orlando Magic and the Denver Nuggets. He later rose to lead basketball operations in Denver, earning NBA Executive of the Year honors for his work.
In addition to his NBA leadership, Ujiri expanded his influence into the women’s game, joining the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo in 2026, further demonstrating his commitment to growing basketball globally.
The hiring of Masai Ujiri did not stop with reshaping the top of the organization. In another major move, Ujiri brought in respected talent evaluator Mike Schmitz to serve as General Manager, giving the Dallas Mavericks one of the league’s most highly regarded front-office duos.
Schmitz arrives in Dallas after serving as Assistant General Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played a significant role in scouting, player evaluation, roster construction, and organizational planning. Around the NBA, Schmitz has built a reputation as one of basketball’s sharpest talent evaluators, with extensive experience scouting both domestic and international prospects.
Ujiri praised Schmitz not only for his basketball knowledge, but also for the culture and structure he helps create within an organization.
“Mike is one of the most respected evaluators and basketball minds in the NBA. He brings intelligence, discipline, humility and a relentless work ethic to everything he does. Just as importantly, he understands how to build an aligned, collaborative culture across every part of a basketball organization. We are building something special in Dallas, and Mike will be a major part of that vision.”
As General Manager, Schmitz will help oversee all areas of basketball operations, including scouting, player personnel decisions, strategic planning, and communication across departments. His background in modern player evaluation and analytics-driven scouting gives Dallas another strong voice in shaping the roster around emerging star Cooper Flagg and veteran leader Kyrie Irving.
Schmitz said joining the Mavericks represents a tremendous opportunity.
“Joining the Dallas Mavericks is an incredible opportunity. I have tremendous respect for Masai, this ownership group and the vision they have for the future of this franchise. I’m excited to get to work alongside the talented people already in place and help build a championship-caliber organization.”
Before entering NBA front offices, Schmitz became widely known through his work as a draft analyst for ESPN and as a global scout for DraftExpress, where he traveled extensively evaluating talent around the world. His international scouting background aligns closely with Ujiri’s philosophy of casting a wide net for talent and finding value in overlooked areas of the basketball world.
Schmitz also brings experience at multiple levels of the game. He worked as a video coordinator for the Bakersfield Jam during the 2012-13 season and has served as an assistant coach for the Ugandan national team since 2018. That combination of scouting, coaching, and development experience further strengthens a Mavericks front office that is clearly emphasizing long-term infrastructure, player growth, and global talent identification under Ujiri’s leadership.
With Ujiri and now Schmitz at the helm, the Mavericks are making it clear that this is more than a front-office change, it’s the start of a new era aimed squarely at sustained excellence and championship contention.