A New Chapter in Dallas
Following a disappointing 26-56 campaign, the Dallas Mavericks have officially appointed former Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri as their new team president and alternate governor. His arrival follows a period of significant unrest for the franchise, marked by the midseason departure of superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers—a move that sparked widespread fan protests and ultimately led to the dismissal of former GM Nico Harrison in November 2025.
Looking Toward the Future
During his first press conference as the head of the organization, Ujiri faced inevitable questions regarding whether he would have sanctioned the trade that sent Dončić away. Eschewing simple answers, Ujiri emphasized the need for the franchise to move past previous decisions and focus on growth.
«We have to respect everybody and everything that happened here. He [Dončić] is a Hall of Fame player. He is gone. He will always be a Maverick. We have to move, we really have to move on. It is not for me to start criticizing what anybody else is doing. It is for me to criticize what I am doing, and worry about what I’m going to do.»
Ujiri underscored that his primary objective is to cultivate a winning culture, rather than dwelling on the roster changes of the past. He noted that constant reflection on previous errors would only hinder his ability to lead the team toward future success.
Building a Legacy
Ujiri, who famously orchestrated the 2019 championship run in Toronto—a move that similarly involved trading a franchise pillar in DeMar DeRozan—now turns his attention to a Dallas roster bolstered by young talent, including the 2025 top overall draft pick, Cooper Flagg.
Ujiri remains optimistic about the team's trajectory, concluding his remarks with a poignant sentiment:
«We have a saying in Africa, we say, 'when kings go, kings come.' And a king went, and we have a little prince here that we're gonna turn into a king.»