The Dallas Mavericks have had a busy offseason thus far after going 26-56 this past season. On May 4th 2026, former Toronto Raptors’ executive vice president and general manager Masai Ujiri was hired by Mavs governor Patrick Dumont to be the team’s president and alternate governor.
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,” Dumont said in a statement. “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.”
In that same press release, Ujiri shared that he is committed to winning and that he knows it was an important time for the Mavs’organization.
“I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization.
“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.”
Not too much time had passed before the Mavs and former head coach Jason Kidd decided to part ways after five seasons and three years removed from making a finals appearance.
A move that Ujiri admitted that he had to be accountable for, and his reasoning for firing Kidd was that he felt the organization needed a fresh start in the Cooper Flagg era moving forward.
“What he’s done for this organization we truly respect, so this was a very, very tough decision,” Ujiri said.
“I have to be accountable with a decision like this,” he said. “I also have to be very active in how I look at the organization from top to bottom.”
On Monday, the Mavs made it official after Shams reported that Michigan’s former head coach, Dusty May, was their choice. After spending two seasons with the Wolverines, leading to a national championship for the first time since 1989, posting a record of 63-14. Before arriving in Ann Arbor, May turned Florida Atlantic University into one of the nation’s most respected college basketball programs, including leading the Owls to the Final Four in 2023, as well as other NCAA tournaments. Reaching the NBA has been May’s lifelong goal since the beginning of his career as a student manager under the leadership of Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight, working his way up to video, operations, and support roles with Indiana before accepting the same role at USC.
“I am honored to join the Dallas Mavericks organization,” said May in a press release on Monday. “This is one of the most respected franchises in professional sports, with passionate fans, a talented roster, and a clear commitment to building a championship organization. I am grateful to Patrick Dumont, Masai Ujiri, and the Mavericks organization for this opportunity, and I look forward to helping bring another championship to the city of Dallas.”
In that same release, both Ujiri and Governor Patrick Dumont spoke about May’s leadership, accountability, and his ability to develop his players.
“Dusty represents the type of leader we want guiding this franchise,” said Dallas Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont. “He has demonstrated throughout his career that success is built through preparation, character, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. His leadership style, ability to develop people, and championship mindset align with the vision we have for the Dallas Mavericks. We are thrilled to welcome Dusty, his wife Anna, and their sons Jack, Charlie, and Eli to the Mavericks family.”
Masai Ujiri added, “We set out to find a leader who embodies the values we want to define our organization.”
“Dusty has won at every stage of his career because of his ability to build. He develops players, creates accountability, and brings people together around a shared standard of excellence. His work ethic is extraordinary, and his teams consistently reflect his values. When you study his journey, you see someone who has earned every opportunity through preparation, discipline, humility, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. We believe those qualities make him the right leader for the Dallas Mavericks.”
On Monday night, during the first round of the NBA draft, the Mavs, with the ninth pick, reunited Morez Johnson Jr. with his college coach. The move also pairs Johnson Jr with last year’s rookie of the year, Cooper Flagg, and Kyrie Irving, who is coming back from an ACL injury. Then, in the latter part of the draft on Monday night, they were able to land Sergio de Larrea out of Spain in a four-team trade involving the Lakers, Suns, and the Knicks. The Mavericks look poised to make a playoff run this season with the return of Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II, and whoever they land in free agency.
