Mavericks Chief Executive Officer Rick Welts will step down at the end of the year with the president Ethan Casson replacing him as CEO and Deputy Governor, announced the team at a press release.
According to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning NewsWelts — a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — retired in 2024 to help run the business side of the team’s operations.
“I’m very happy to talk about it” Welts told Townsend. “We’re making a turnaround. It’s a transition time. I think it’s about as well planned and orchestrated as it’s ever been by any NBA organization.”
Rants. 73, was president and chief executive officer of the Suns from July 2002 to September 2011. He was president of the Warriors from 2011 to 2021 and remained with the organization as an advisor until 2024. From 1996 to 1999, he was the NBA’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
During his tenure with the Mavs, he helped lead a period of significant organizational transformation, including strengthening the Mavericks’ executive leadership team, advancing the organization’s long-term arena and development strategy, and positioning the franchise for its next chapter.
“Rick joined the Mavericks at an important time for our organization and his leadership, insight and experience have been invaluable,” the governor Patrick Dumont said. “He helped strengthen our leadership team, advance our long-term vision and position the organization for continued success. Equally important, Rick and Ethan built a strong partnership that created a natural and seamless path forward.”
Casson joined the organization in 2025 with the hope that he would eventually succeed Welts. He brings more than two decades of leadership experience in professional sports and entertainment. He spent nine seasons as CEO and Deputy Governor of the Timberwolves and WNBA Lynx, overseeing the organization’s business operations and delivering record growth across all key revenue and business performance metrics, according to the release.
Prior to his time in Minnesota, Casson served as Chief Operating Officer of the San Francisco 49ers, where he played a key role in the development of Levi’s Stadium.
