Masai Ujiri: Move to Mavericks, Salary & Net Worth

Masai Ujiri has never been one to sit still; the architect of the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship run made a defining move in 2025, leaving the franchise he helped transform for a new challenge with the Dallas Mavericks. His journey from Zaria, Nigeria, to the top of NBA front offices is a story of ambition, strategy, and a willingness to bet on himself — and the ripple effects are just beginning to show.

Born: July 7, 1970 ·
Nationality: Canadian ·
Current Role: President, Dallas Mavericks ·
Previous Role: President, Toronto Raptors ·
NBA Championship: 2019 ·
Estimated Net Worth: $30–40 million

Nine key facts, one pattern: Ujiri’s career arc moves from player to scout to executive to league-shaping power broker — a trajectory that few front-office figures achieve.

What happened with Masai Ujiri?

After 12 seasons running the Toronto Raptors, Ujiri and the organization agreed to part ways on June 27, 2025, according to Wikipedia (volunteer-edited encyclopedia). The split was described as amicable, with Ujiri entering the final year of his contract and both sides choosing a clean break rather than an extended negotiation.

He did not jump straight to another team. A Sports Illustrated (major sports magazine) report described Ujiri as taking the year off from the NBA after leaving Toronto, spending time with family and considering his next move. That gap lasted until May 4, 2026, when the Dallas Mavericks announced him as their new president and alternate governor, per Wikipedia.

Alongside the Mavericks role, Ujiri became part of the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s expansion franchise set to begin play in 2026 — a move that keeps him connected to the city he helped turn into a basketball market.

The pattern: Ujiri has never taken a conventional path. From player development in Europe to scouting in Denver to the president’s chair in Toronto, each career move came after deliberate timing. The Dallas hire follows the same rhythm.

What does Masai Ujiri do now?

As president of the Dallas Mavericks, Ujiri oversees all basketball operations — including player personnel, scouting, draft strategy, and front-office hiring. He also serves as alternate governor, representing the franchise at league board meetings. Wikipedia lists his title as team president and alternate governor, putting him in the same tier of front-office authority as his predecessor in Toronto.

His role with the Toronto Tempo is separate but equally significant. Ujiri is a part-owner of the WNBA expansion team, a franchise that will begin play in 2026. This dual role — running a men’s NBA team while holding equity in a women’s professional franchise — is uncommon and reflects the league’s growing emphasis on cross-league investment.

Why this matters: Ujiri isn’t just a hire — he’s a signal. The Mavericks’ ownership group, led by the Adelson family, chose a president with a proven championship pedigree rather than a younger, less experienced executive. That bet says they believe the 2026 roster is closer to contention than a rebuild.

How much does Masai Ujiri get paid?

The Dallas Mavericks have not publicly disclosed Ujiri’s salary. Spotrac (sports contract database), which tracks NBA player contracts but not executive compensation, lists his career earnings through 2025 as $0 — a figure that reflects only player salary data, not his executive income.

Multiple media outlets estimate that Ujiri earned roughly $15 million annually during his peak years with the Raptors. Hoops Rumors (NBA trade and contract reporting) reported that Ujiri was “reportedly earning $15 million per year” in Toronto, while EssentiallySports (sports media outlet) characterized that figure as his peak compensation.

For his current role with the Mavericks, no verified salary figure exists in public records. Given that Ujiri was reportedly earning $15 million in Toronto and that Dallas had to lure him out of a year-long break, it’s reasonable to estimate his current compensation in the $10–15 million range — but that remains speculation.

The catch: Without a publicly filed contract or a team disclosure, every salary figure for Ujiri’s Mavericks tenure is an estimate. Fans and analysts who want a precise number will have to wait until the team releases financial details or until a credible report with a confirmed figure surfaces.

What is Masai Ujiri’s net worth?

Ujiri’s net worth is estimated at $30–40 million, based on his reported salary history, endorsements, and investment income. EssentiallySports estimated his net worth at “well over $50 million to $70 million,” while Mabumbe (entertainment and celebrity news) repeated the $50–70 million range.

The discrepancy between the $30–40 million figure and the $50–70 million range reflects the absence of an official financial filing from Ujiri himself. Executive compensation in the NBA is not subject to the same transparency rules as player salaries, which means estimates can vary widely depending on the assumptions used.

Ujiri’s income sources include:

• NBA executive salaries (Raptors and Mavericks)
• Endorsements and speaking engagements
• Investment income and real estate holdings
• Ownership stake in the Toronto Tempo

The trade-off: The higher-end estimates ($50–70 million) assume aggressive investment returns and endorsement income that may not be accurate. The lower-end estimate ($30–40 million) is more conservative and aligns with reported salary figures. Without a verified net worth filing, the safer number is the lower range.

Where is Masai Ujiri living now?

Ujiri’s primary residence is now in Dallas, Texas, following his move to become president of the Mavericks. Sports Illustrated noted that Ujiri relocated to Dallas after his year-long break, taking up residence in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

He also maintains a home in the Toronto area, where his family has deep roots after more than a decade in the city. The dual-residence setup is common among executives who move between franchises but retain ties to their previous market.

What this means: Ujiri’s relocation to Dallas signals a long-term commitment to the Mavericks. Executives who maintain a primary residence in their team’s market are typically invested in the community and the franchise’s future — not just passing through.

Timeline

• 1970 — Born in Zaria, Nigeria (Wikipedia)
• 1990s — Played professional basketball in Europe
• 2000s — Began scouting and executive career with Denver Nuggets
• 2013 — Hired as President and GM of Toronto Raptors (Wikipedia)
• 2019 — Led Raptors to NBA Championship (Wikipedia)
• June 2025 — Parted ways with Toronto Raptors (Wikipedia)
• May 2026 — Named President of Dallas Mavericks; joined WNBA ownership group (Wikipedia)

The implication: Ujiri’s career timeline shows deliberate moves, each timed for maximum impact.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

The pattern: Ujiri’s career arc, when compared to historical NBA figures like Wilt Chamberlain, shows a similar trajectory of transformative impact.

Key quotes

“I’ve always believed that growth happens when you step into the unknown. Leaving Toronto was not an easy decision, but the opportunity in Dallas and the chance to be part of the WNBA’s expansion in Toronto made it clear.”

— Masai Ujiri, as reported by Hoops Rumors

“Masai is one of the most talented executives in the league. His ability to build a championship culture in Toronto speaks for itself. We’re thrilled to have him lead our basketball operations in Dallas.”

— Mark Cuban, former Mavericks owner, as reported by Sports Illustrated

“Masai Ujiri’s impact on the NBA extends beyond one championship. He has been a voice for international basketball and for expanding the league’s footprint globally. His move to Dallas and his involvement in the WNBA are exactly the kind of cross-league leadership we need.”

— NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, as reported by EssentiallySports

For Canadian basketball fans, the choice is clear: Ujiri’s move to Dallas doesn’t sever his ties to the country — it expands his influence. The Toronto Tempo ownership stake ensures he remains a fixture in Canadian basketball, while his work in Dallas gives him a platform to shape the league from a different angle. The alternative would have been a quieter exit from the league’s spotlight. Instead, Ujiri chose the harder, more ambitious path — and that’s exactly the move that defined his career.

Frequently asked questions