Dirk Nowitzki remains hopeful about the Dallas Mavericks’ future despite the departure of Luka Doncic. In a surprising move in February 2025, former Mavericks GM Nico Harrison traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis—a deal widely criticized as one of the worst in NBA history. Harrison was dismissed within a year, and the Mavericks have since focused on rebuilding around rising star Cooper Flagg and 2016 NBA champion Kyrie Irving.
The Mavericks icon, Nowitzki, has maintained confidence in the franchise’s potential. At 48 years old, he believes the team can make a return to the NBA Finals soon under the leadership of their new president, Masai Ujiri.
Masai Ujiri, best known for his successful tenure with the Toronto Raptors, now faces the challenge of elevating the Mavericks back to the top of the Western Conference. He has already gained Nowitzki’s strong support, who described this as an exciting era for Dallas, even as fans remain skeptical following Doncic’s controversial exit to the Lakers.
“We support Ujiri completely,” Nowitzki shared with The Athletic during his tennis event. “Everyone wants the Mavericks to get back to where they were. Just a few years ago, we were a Finals-caliber team. There’s a lot of work ahead, and we’re energized about it.”
Since taking over in May, Ujiri has revamped the Mavericks’ roster, most notably replacing Jason Kidd with former Michigan Wolverines coach Dusty May after five seasons. He also bolstered the team by drafting Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio de Larrea in the first round, while acquiring Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser, and Tarik Biberovic via trades. The current roster now looks deeper and aimed at competing for a Play-In tournament spot in the competitive Western Conference.
“There have been a lot of changes,” Nowitzki remarked on the busy offseason. “Ujiri brought in many of his own picks. It’s going to be fun to watch how things develop—new coach, new general manager Mike Schmitz. He’s already made a big impact, so we’ll see how it all unfolds.”
Fan Take: This shift in Dallas marks a pivotal moment not just for the Mavericks but for the NBA’s balance of power. Basketball fans should pay close attention, as Ujiri’s bold moves could either kickstart an exciting rebuilding era or serve as a cautionary tale of risking the franchise’s future on high-stakes gambles.
Source: nbaanalysis.net
