Longtime NBA executive Rick Welts has been named the new chief executive of the Dallas Mavericks, effective Jan. 1, replacing Cynt Marshall after her nearly seven years at the helm of the NBA franchise. The Mavericks announced in October that Marshall was retiring at the end of the year.
“Inspiring leadership has been a staple of the Dallas Mavericks since Cynt Marshall started leading the organization in 2018 as CEO. I’m extremely proud that her legacy of success and our family’s vision for the future of this franchise will soon be in the hands of another great leader,” Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont said in statement.
“Rick Welts is among the most successful executives in the history of the NBA and a member of the Hall of Fame,” Dumont added. “To have him join us as we continue to build on the successful history of the Mavericks is a clear signal that this organization is serious about both growing its position as an elite NBA team and further positioning the franchise among the most popular sports teams in the world.”
Senior executive in both NBA and WNBA
During his 46-year career in sports and entertainment, Welts has held roles as president and COO of the Golden State Warriors, president of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and the NBA’s senior vice president, chief marketing officer, and president of NBA Properties.
“The chance to lead this organization in this city at this time is both incredibly exciting and unexpected,” Welts said in a statement. “I appreciate Patrick’s confidence in selecting me to build upon the culture and success that Cynt Marshall and Nico Harrison have created. My long-standing friendships with them both give me a lot of confidence in accepting this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started learning all I can about Dallas and how best to serve our fans and this community.”
Marshall said Welts has helped her during her time leading the Mavericks.
“It gives me great pleasure to pass the baton to my friend, Rick Welts. From the day I joined the Mavs, I’ve benefited from his knowledge and vast experience in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Marshall. “I love our team so much and I’m happy that they will be in such great hands. There is no doubt that Rick and his family will embrace and enjoy the wonderful fans, employees and communities in Dallas.”
The Basketball Hall of Fame
The Mavericks said that Welts began his NBA career as a ballboy with the SuperSonics in 1969 at the age of 16 and, a decade later, was a part of the franchise’s lone NBA championship in 1979 as its public relations director.
During his 17 years with the NBA league office in New York, Welts’ accomplishments included the creation of NBA All-Star Weekend in 1984 and the marketing program for USA Basketball’s Olympic “Dream Team” in 1992. Along with Val Ackerman, he was named “Marketer of the Year” by Brandweek in 1998 for his role in launching the WNBA.
The team said that Welts owns the rare distinction of being part of championship teams in the NBA (4), WNBA (2) and the NBA G League (1), contributing to his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
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