Masai Ujiri has never been afraid to hit the reset button.
Throughout his NBA career, he's built a reputation for making bold, franchise-shifting decisions—tearing down rosters when necessary and constructing contenders from the rubble. Now, the Dallas Mavericks are betting that same fearless philosophy can stabilize a franchise searching for its identity.
Much like Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Ujiri is known as a risk-taker, unafraid to make aggressive moves in pursuit of a championship. The Mavericks announced Monday that they've hired him as president of basketball operations and alternate governor, tasking him with reshaping a team still reeling from the blockbuster trade of Luka Dončić.
Ujiri's resume speaks for itself. In 2018, he made one of the most daring trades in NBA history, sending franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard—a player widely expected to leave for Los Angeles after just one season. Weeks earlier, he had fired coach Dwane Casey, who went on to win NBA Coach of the Year, and promoted assistant Nick Nurse. The gamble paid off in spectacular fashion: Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship before departing for the Clippers.
Ujiri is expected to be formally introduced at a press conference Tuesday. Here's a look at his remarkable journey through the NBA:
Pre-2003 — Played professionally in Europe before transitioning to the front office as an international scout for the Orlando Magic.
2003 — Joined the Denver Nuggets as an international scout, beginning a relationship that would define much of his early career.
2007-08 — Hired by the Toronto Raptors as director of international scouting, quickly rising to assistant general manager by 2008.
2010 — Returned to Denver as general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations, making history as the first African general manager in major American professional sports. The Nuggets went 50-32 in his first full season.
February 2011 — Orchestrated the blockbuster Carmelo Anthony trade, sending the superstar to the New York Knicks in a deal that reshaped both franchises. The Nuggets received Chauncey Billups and a package of players and picks that set the stage for future success.