DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri made several references to a fresh start for the franchise while explaining what he said was a difficult decision to remove Jason Kidd as coach after five seasons.
Ujiri also said he wasn't referring to the trade of Luka Doncic, or anyone connected to the February 2025 deal that ended up being a huge setback for the franchise.
“Honestly, that trade has played no part in how I have thought about anything,” Ujiri said at a news conference Wednesday. “I’m in no position to criticize or blame or even really investigate some of the things that happened then. We have to figure out a way to slowly move on from this, and I have to hold myself accountable for doing this.”
Ujiri said he spent plenty of time talking to Kidd since he was hired two weeks ago. He declined to share details of those conversations.
“Being transparent with everybody, I think a new slate was a good way to look at this,” Ujiri said. “I feel sometimes in this organization we needed clarity in where we’re going. We need to really work in one direction and how we build this team and how we create winning.”
Dallas made two deep playoff runs with Kidd and Doncic, reaching the NBA Finals in 2024, two years after a loss to Golden State in the Western Conference finals.
The Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-25 season, getting Anthony Davis as their centerpiece in return. Dallas missed the playoffs that season and again in 2025-26, during which the oft-injured Davis was traded while sidelined with an injury.
Kidd, the Hall of Fame point guard who led the franchise to its only championship as a player in 2011, finished with a .500 regular-season coaching record (205-205) with the Mavs. In two of the three years Dallas missed the playoffs under Kidd, it was clear the club was focused on draft positioning as the seasons ended.
“What he’s done for this organization we truly respect, so this was a very, very tough decision,” Ujiri said. “I have to be accountable with a decision like this. I also have to be very active in how I look at the organization from top to bottom.”
Ujiri has already touted building around Cooper Flagg, the 19-year-old who won Rookie of the Year after being the top draft pick last summer following a standout one-and-done season at Duke.
Flagg still hasn't had a chance to play with fellow Duke alum Kyrie Irving, who thrived under Kidd before tearing the ACL in his left knee in March 2025 and missing all of the 2025-26 season.
When Irving arrived in Dallas, he was coming off tumultuous tenures in Boston and Brooklyn. He enjoyed a career renaissance while teaming with Doncic on the run that ended with a five-game loss to Boston in the 2024 NBA Finals.
Now the 34-year-old awaits word on Kidd's replacement.
“Kevin Durant once told me that there’s only one Kyrie walking around in the world,” Ujiri said. “I think we have to figure out a way, how Kyrie fits with our program. And I’ve had those conversations with Kyrie. And I think Kyrie will fit. As I said it before, there’s a huge curiosity in our minds to see how Kyrie fits playing with Cooper Flagg.”
Ujiri hired Mike Schmitz as general manager three days after he was introduced, and confirmed Wednesday that former co-interim general manager Matt Riccardi is leaving the organization.
Ujiri said discussions continue on a potential role for Michael Finley, the former Dallas player who was promoted alongside Riccardi in November when Nico Harrison, the engineer of the Doncic trade, was fired as general manager.
Moving on from Kidd was expensive for the Mavericks, who had signed him to multiyear extensions during the playoffs in 2024 and again last year after denying the New York Knicks permission to talk to him about their head coach opening.
“I am going to sit here and take responsibility for any of the decisions that we are going to make,” Ujiri said. “It’s not about being defensive. We’re just going to have a vision here that we are going to follow.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Mavericks President Masai Ujiri speaks to reporters during a news conference addressing the departure of the NBA basketball team's head coach Jason Kidd, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Mavericks President Masai Ujiri speaks to reporters during a news conference addressing the departure of the NBA basketball team's head coach Jason Kidd, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Mavericks President Masai Ujiri speaks to reporters during a news conference addressing the departure of the NBA basketball team's head coach Jason Kidd, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
ZURICH (AP) — Ryan Leonard scored the decisive penalty for the United States in a 4-3 shootout win over Germany at the ice hockey world championship on Wednesday.
Tommy Novak tied it at 3-3 for the U.S. with 5:47 left in regulation after Germany goaltender Philipp Grubauer was unable to hold onto the puck.
The defending champion Americans recovered from a 6-2 loss to Finland on Monday for their second win from four games and have five points in Group A in Zurich.
The Germans earned their first point.
Isaac Howard and Max Sasson also scored for the U.S. and goaltender Devin Cooley allowed one goal in the shootout.
Germany took an early lead when captain Moritz Seider scored one minute into the game. Howard tied it at 1-1 before the end of the first and Sasson's goal put the Americans ahead early in the second period.
Still in the second, the Germans rallied with Frederik Tiffels' tying goal and Marc Michaelis' go-ahead tally less than three minutes later.
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, who arrived at Zurich on Tuesday, played his first career game at the worlds. The two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic champion failed to convert his penalty shot.
The U.S. plays Latvia on Saturday.
Switzerland routed Austria 9-0 to keep a perfect record.
Theo Rochette, Nico Hischier and Damien Riat each scored two goals as the Swiss won their fourth straight game to lead Group A in Zurich with 12 points.
Sven Andrighetto had three assists and Leonardo Genoni stopped 20 shots.
After finishing runner-up the previous two years, host Switzerland hopes for more in front of the home supporters.
Austria remains on nine points after its first loss.
In Group B in Fribourg, Czechia rallied late to edge winless Italy 3-1.
Nicholas Saracino put Italy in front 1-0 in the second period — for only the second goal by Italy at the worlds.
Early in the third, Marek Alscher tied it at 1-1 and Jakub Flek scored the eventual winner with 8:55 left. Dominik Kubalík added an empty-netter.
The Czechs, atop their group with 10 points, outshot Italy 58-15.
In another game in Fribourg, Raymond Lucas and Jacob de la Rose each scored two goals in Sweden's 6-0 win over Slovenia. Robert Hagg and Mattias Ekholm also scored.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Sweden's Carl Grundstrom, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Marcel Mahkovec, right, during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group B game between Sweden and Slovenia, in Fribourg, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Cyril Zingaro/Keystone via AP)
Germany's Marc Michaelis, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during a Group A preliminary round game between the United States and Germany at the men's ice hockey world championship in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
United States Alex Steeves falls in the crease between Germany's goaltender Philipp Grubauer, left, and Leon Gawanke during a Group A preliminary round game between the United States and Germany at the men's ice hockey world championship in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
United States' Ryan Leonard, left, scores the decisive goal in the penalty shootout during a Group A preliminary round game between the USA and Germany at the men's ice hockey world championship in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
United States' Ryan Leonard celebrates after scoring the decisive goal in the penalty shootout during a Group A preliminary round game between the USA and Germany at the men's ice hockey world championship in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
Czechia's Marek Alscher, center, celebrates with Matej Blumel, right, and Jiri Tichacek, left, after scoring during a Group B preliminary round game between the Czech Republic and Italy in Fribourg, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Cyril Zingaro/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's players celebrate after scoring during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group A game between Austria and Switzerland, in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's Theo Rochette, behind left,and Switzerland's Damien Riat, center, celebrate the fourth goal in front of Austria's Ramon Schnetzer, left, and Austria's goaltender David Kickert, right, during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group A game between Austria and Switzerland, in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Claudio Thoma/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's Theo Rochette, right in white, scores the teams first goal against, from left, Austria's Ian Scherzer, Austria's Ramon Schnetzer and Austria's goaltender David Kickert during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group A game between Austria and Switzerland, in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Claudio Thoma/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's Nico Hischier, right, scores the fifth goal to Austria's goaltender David Kickert, left, during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group A game between Austria and Switzerland, in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Claudio Thoma/Keystone via AP)
