The Dallas Mavericks are entering the 2026-27 season with a completely new leadership team after a major offseason overhaul. Media day is set for September 25th, with training camp beginning shortly after to prepare for preseason games abroad. This reset follows a season that concluded with a high-scoring 149-128 victory over the Chicago Bulls on April 13, 2026, but was preceded by a tough 1-4 stretch in their final five games.
Governor Patrick Dumont fired General Manager Nico Harrison in November, a move driven by significant fan pressure. After a lengthy search, Dumont secured Masai Ujiri as the new President of Basketball Operations and Alternate Governor. Ujiri, who built the Toronto Raptors' 2019 championship team, brings immediate credibility. His first major hire was Mike Schmitz as General Manager. Schmitz previously served as an assistant GM in Portland and ran ESPN's DraftExpress. The team retained Michael Finley as an assistant GM but parted ways with Matt Riccardi.
New President Masai Ujiri decided a fresh start was needed and dismissed head coach Jason Kidd. This happened despite Kidd having over $40 million left on a contract extension signed just last offseason. The search for a replacement lasted more than a month. Ujiri ultimately cleaned house, bringing in an entirely new staff to implement his vision. The goal is clearly to change the team's culture and on-court identity after a disappointing finish.
The Mavericks' 2025-26 campaign ended with mixed signals. Their final game was an offensive explosion, a 149-128 win against the Bulls. However, their form in the closing weeks was poor. They lost four of their last five games. Those losses included a 112-107 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on April 9 and a 123-99 blowout by the Milwaukee Bucks on April 1. They also fell in high-scoring affairs to the Golden State Warriors (137-131) and the Atlanta Hawks (135-120) in late March. A 129-111 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on March 17 started that difficult final stretch.
All eyes are now on the September 25th media day and the start of training camp. The new front office, led by Ujiri and Schmitz, has set a new direction focused on drafting and development. The incoming coaching staff faces the immediate task of installing new systems and evaluating players during the international preseason slate. For a franchise seeking stability, this comprehensive overhaul represents a bold gamble. The early start to camp provides extra time, but the pressure to show improvement will be intense from day one. The team's ability to defend and create consistent offense will be the first test for the new regime.
