New Mavericks president Masai Ujiri gives perfect answer when asked if he would've traded Luka Dončić
The new Mavericks president addressed the Luka Dončić trade from the 2024-2025 season.
The 2024-25 NBA season was overshadowed by the blockbuster midseason trade that sent star Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team swap. The deal caused Mavericks fans to stage various protests outside of American Airlines Center, calling for the firing of former GM Nico Harrison before he was finally shown the door in November 2025. Dallas began a search for a replacement and, on May 4, agreed to terms with former Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri to become the franchise’s new team president and alternate governor.
Ujiri is tasked with continuing Dallas’ turnaround following a 26-56 season. Fans are still not over the Dončić decision, and it was clear that anyone hired for the role would have to answer for the faults of his predecessor. During his introductory press conference, Ujiri was asked whether he would have made the deal that sent Dončić away.
Rather than simply saying “no,” he gave a well-thought-out answer to help fans see the past as the past and focus the future. Masai Ujiri was asked if he would have traded Luka Doncic. His answer: pic.
twitter. com/lMa6y3yNaO — Noah Weber (@noahweber00) May 5, 2026 “We have to respect everybody and everything that happened here,” he said. “He [Dončić] is a Hall of Fame player.