As the Mavericks’ search for a general manager begins, a name to consider for the gig could already be in the team’s facility.
Plano’s Matt Riccardi currently works as the team’s assistant general manager. When Nico Harrison was fired as GM in November, Riccardi and Michael Finley were called on to oversee basketball operations on an interim basis.
Here are five things to know about Riccardi:
1. He has plenty of familiarity with North Texas
Mavericks
Riccardi is no stranger to basketball in the Dallas area. He originally moved to North Texas as a sixth grader in 1996 and went on to play basketball at Plano Senior High. He graduated from high school in 2004 and played collegiately at UT-Tyler.
He joined the Mavericks’ organization in 2022, marking a full-circle moment for Riccardi.
“Knowing that I have the ability to do that is pretty special,” Riccardi told The Dallas Morning News in 2022. “Everyone in this industry would probably tell you that working for your hometown team or doing something like that — whether it’s for one year, five years, a lifetime — is an awesome opportunity.”
2. How he made it to the NBA
Riccardi graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 2007. He earned his MBA when he worked as an assistant coach for the UT-Tyler men’s basketball team during the 2008-09 season.
After his time at UT-Tyler, Riccardi sent cover letters and resumes to every team in the NBA. He made it to the league in the Fall of 2009, when he accepted an internship to work with former New Jersey Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks.
Riccardi spent 13 years with the Nets organization, working his way up to director of scouting operations for the Brooklyn squad and general manager of the G League’s Long Island Nets.
3. He witnessed a key moment in Mavericks history
Back in May, the Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery. Against all odds, the Mavericks drew the No. 1 pick and the chance to select Duke’s Cooper Flagg. Riccardi was in Chicago to witness the moment Dallas won the lottery.
While Mavericks great Rolando Blackman was on stage to represent the team at the lottery, Riccardi was backstage where the drawing took place. Riccardi went to Chicago with a good luck charm from his son, Lio.
4. He was promoted by the Mavs in 2023
In August 2023, Riccardi was promoted from senior director of pro personnel to assistant general manager.
5. He helped hire a men’s basketball coach in his time at UT-Tyler
Riccardi has plenty of experience with important basketball decisions. He apparently helped with a pretty big one when he was at UT-Tyler.
According to a 2021 article from Forbes, Riccardi was on the search committee to hire a new men’s basketball coach at the Division III school during his junior season. Riccardi played a key role in the hiring of Kenny Bizot.
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