JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Masai Ujiri has been introduced as the new team president and alternate governor of the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas made the decision after a six-month search led by team owner Patrick Dumont.
Ujiri’s appointment marks a major reset for the franchise after a turbulent period, with the organization now looking to restore stability, direction and get back to winning ways.
Dumont formally introduced Ujiri, praising his leadership and vision, before handing the floor over to the new president to address the media.
Ujiri began by expressing gratitude and recognizing the magnitude of the opportunity:
“Thank you, Patrick. This is incredible. I want to thank the organization, everyone, the fans.
“It’s been overwhelming. The support has been incredible. Coming to this historic organization, the Dallas Mavericks, returning to the NBA, it’s a blessing, and I’m humbled and humbled to have this unique opportunity.
“I want to thank my family, my amazing kids, my wife, my troublemaker over there. They’ve been so supportive during this year off, and I’ve been an Uber driver to my kids’ games, and I spent a great time at work watching the NBA, watching things from afar, and they really stuck with me.
“Coming back to the organization and the Dallas Mavericks, this is an incredible opportunity for me and I really appreciate it.”
“Listen, I hope to bring calm. I hope to bring this place victory. Yes, we want to win again. This is a winning organization. We want to get back to that, and I know the fan base wants that. I know the organization wants that. I know the leadership wants that. I know the NBA wants that, and I’m praying.
“I know that winning is my motivation and winning will be the motivation of this organization, so thank you.
“Thank you all for being here.”
He then detailed what attracted him back to the NBA and why Dallas stood out among potential opportunities:
“It’s the story of the Dallas Mavericks. Patrick called me, I think it was in December, four months ago, the process of which followed an incredible process of meetings, phone calls, a five-hour lunch.
“This really stuck with me because when you watch the NBA from afar and with my departure from Toronto, I really felt like I wanted to take the time to watch and learn some of the things that I didn’t do as well, you want to learn the nuances of the game, but innovate a little bit.
“And when I started thinking about what this team has, the organization, a young player with Cooper Flagg, the veterans on this team and the foundation that we have. I thought it was a unique opportunity here. And I know this is the one that attracted me back to the NBA.”
Addressing the fallout from recent roster changes, Ujiri acknowledged the emotional weight within the organization while also emphasizing the need to move forward:
“I want to be very respectful to everyone here. And yes, there is a healing process with that. Luka is a hall of famer, a future hall of famer. And that’s the past. In Africa, we say, when kings go, kings come. And the king went and we have a little prince here. Now we will become a king.
“Yeah, and I think we have to start thinking that way. I understand what we’ve been through. But I hope we can figure out how we reset as an organization, with the fans, everyone in the community. And we start thinking about it that way and we start thinking about how to move forward.
Ujiri also outlined his immediate priorities, emphasizing culture, alignment and a singular focus on winning:
“There’s a transition period for me and I’m going to get to know everyone. You know, when you come to jobs like this, obviously you have people that you’re going to bring in somehow. I want to keep the great people who think about winning.
“Yes, it’s that simple for me. The focus now is no distraction. The focus is on winning. In every department we have, whether it’s doctor, coach, players, everything, and I can get the feeling that everyone really wants to win.
“Everyone 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 honest direction here. Yes, and everyone has to have that mentality here in Dallas.”
Beyond the immediate task of rebuilding the franchise, Masai Ujiri arrives in Dallas with a resume that places him among the most prominent executives in modern basketball.
Also read: The influence of Hakeem Olajuwon on African basketball
He made history in 2010 when he was named general manager of the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first African-born general manager in the history of the NBA and major American professional sports.
His rise continued with the Toronto Raptors, where he was promoted to team president in 2016, making him the first African to hold that position in a major professional sports organization.
In 2013, Ujiri was named NBA Executive of the Year, becoming the only non-American to receive the award in recognition of his impact, innovation and leadership within the league.
His most defining achievement came in 2019, when he led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship, making him the first African executive to lead a team to an NBA title.
Now, as he begins a new chapter with the Dallas Mavericks, expectations are high that his experience, global perspective and proven track record can help restore the franchise to championship contention.
