New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri takes questions during an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Masai Ujiri is only two days into his new job, but there are several decisions that lie ahead of what’s expected to be another active offseason for the Dallas Mavericks.
The new Mavericks president of basketball operations and alternate governor was asked about the future of head coach Jason Kidd during his introductory press conference.
Article continues below this ad
Kidd has been one of the leading voices of the Mavericks since he returned to Dallas in 2021 to coach the team he won a championship with as a player. That hire was made by Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban and his contract was extended twice under former general manager Nico Harrison. Ujiri said he had a conversation with Kidd on Monday and expects to speak with him again, but was noncommittal about whether he would be the Mavericks’ coach once the 2026-27 season begins.
“He’s done a great job,” Ujiri said. “We are going to look at this thing from head to toe. That’s the right way to look at an organization and evaluate in every single way that we can. I talked to him and I’m going to hear his thoughts on where he sees this.”
RELATED: Ujiri lays out plan to get Mavericks ‘back to winning’ with Cooper Flagg
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri (right) addressed an introductory news conference with team governor Patrick Dumont on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri (right) and team governor Patrick Dumont address an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri (left) and team governor Patrick Dumont arrive for an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks team governor Patrick Dumont smiles as new team president Masai Ujiri addresses an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks team governor Patrick Dumont (right) listens as new team president Masai Ujiri addresses an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks team governor Patrick Dumont listens as new team president Masai Ujiri addresses an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks team governor Patrick Dumont (left) and new team president Masai Ujiri pose for a photo with a basketball during an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri poses for a photos during an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks team governor Patrick Dumont (left) and new team president Masai Ujiri pose for a photo with a basketball during an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri lifts his son Amani, 5, as his wife Ramatu Ujiri, looks on with their children Zahara, 12, and Masai, Jr, 10, after he was introduced during a news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri lifts his son Amani, 5, as his wife Ramatu Ujiri, looks on with their children Zahara, 12, and Masai, Jr, 10, after he was introduced during a news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri (left) and team governor Patrick Dumont arrive for an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri comforts his son Amani, 5, during an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri gestures to his family during an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri smiles during an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri (right) and team governor Patrick Dumont address an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks team governor Patrick Dumont listens as new team president Masai Ujiri addresses an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri (right) addresses an introductory news conference with team governor Patrick Dumont on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
New Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri addresses an introductory news conference on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Kidd has coached the Mavericks for the last five seasons, amassing a 205-205 record that has included two trips to the Western Conference Finals and an NBA Finals appearance in 2024. Dallas has missed the playoffs the last two seasons because of a lack of continuity amid back-to-back franchise-altering midseason trades, injury misfortune and poor offensive efficiency.
Article continues below this ad
Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.
Add Preferred Source
It’s not uncommon that a new basketball executive would desire a change in head coach as well, but Ujiri’s track record doesn’t say he’s the type to come in and immediately clean house. He inherited both George Karl and Dwane Casey as coaches during his previous two stops in Denver and Toronto, but both remained in their posts for multiple years before he made the decision to part ways with them.
“If you go back to my history, I’ve done the same thing everywhere I’ve been, being in this position,” Ujiri said. “I went to Denver and Coach George Karl was there for three years. Went to Toronto and inherited Coach (Dwane) Casey. He was there for five years. There’s no way to read this. I’m going to hear Jason Kidd out and his thoughts on everything and follow a lot of what he’s saying because some of this stuff here, I don’t know. For me, it’s not simple. If you go back to the history. It’s the same thing. I have to follow a process here. I’m excited to meet with him.”
Ujiri is also expected to meet with several members of the current front office, including Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley, the co-interim general managers who led the franchise after Harrison’s firing. Both executives put the franchise in a position to have financial flexibility and additional draft assets by orchestrating the Anthony Davis trade.
Article continues below this ad
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont was asked about the futures of interim general managers Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley during Tuesday’s press conference. He was also noncommittal about their statuses.
“First off, I want to thank Matt and Fin for the work they did across this year. They did phenomenal work. As Masai said, he’s going to speak with everyone and talk about the future of the organization and go from there.”
By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.
Aside from revamping the front office and roster construction, one of the main priorities for Ujiri is the hiring of a new director of health and performance following the recent dismissal of Johann Bilsborough, who oversaw the team’s medical department. The Mavericks were riddled with injuries over the last two seasons, most notably hindered by the absences of Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II in 2025-26. Unprompted, Ujiri cited the importance of health several times.
Article continues below this ad
The Mavericks have been through a period of transition for the last two seasons, but Ujiri’s is just starting. As is his evaluation process.
“I’m going to get to know everybody,” Ujiri said. “When you come into jobs like this, obviously you have people that you’re going to bring in, in some way. I want to keep the great people that think about winning. It’s that simple for me. The focus now is not any distractions. The focus is winning in every single department we have. Whether it’s medical, coaching, players, everything. I can get the sense that everybody really wants to win. Everybody wants this leadership now and this sense of direction. We have to focus. There has to be a sense of purpose and we have to have an honest direction here. Everybody has to have that mindset in Dallas.”