Africa’s Gift to the NBA: Dallas Mavericks Name Masai Ujiri President
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The Dallas Mavericks have appointed Masai Ujiri as President and Alternate Governor — a landmark moment not just for one of the NBA's most storied franchises, but for African leadership in professional sport.
Ujiri, who built his career from the ground up as an international scout before ascending to the top of NBA front offices, will oversee all aspects of basketball operations in Dallas, including roster construction, player personnel, and scouting.
His appointment carries weight that goes beyond a single franchise. Born in Nigeria and raised with a deep connection to the continent, Ujiri has spent decades making the case that African leadership belongs at the highest levels of the game — and then proving it. In 2019, he delivered the Toronto Raptors their first NBA Championship, becoming the first African executive to lead a team to the title.
Governor Patrick Dumont did not understate the significance of the hire. "Masai Ujiri is one of the great basketball leaders of this generation," he said. "We are committed to being a world-class organisation focused on winning championships, and his addition is a critical step toward that. We welcome his energy and determination along with his leadership, experience, and many accomplishments as a basketball executive."
That legacy is inseparable from Giants of Africa, the nonprofit Ujiri founded in 2003, which has used basketball, education, and leadership development to empower young people across the continent for over two decades. Last year, the United Nations named him a Sustainable Development Goals Advocate - a reflection of influence that stretches far beyond any front office.
Ujiri, for his part, arrived with conviction. "This is a franchise with a proud history, passionate fans, and a commitment to winning," he said. "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."
Earlier this year, he also joined the ownership group of the WNBA's Toronto Tempo, extending his commitment to growing the game in all its forms. For African sports fans and the generation of executives and players the continent is producing, Ujiri's move to Dallas is more than a hiring announcement. It is a reminder of how far African leadership has travelled — and a signal of how much further it intends to go.
