Mavericks rumors: Did Marc Stein just tease the head coaching favorite?

One of the biggest questions the Dallas Mavericks have left to answer this offseason is who will be the team’s next head coach. The Mavericks’ vacancy opened up after new team front office executive Masai Ujiri opted to fire head coach Jason Kidd and bring in his own candidate for the job.

Recently, NBA insider Marc Stein reported on the latest in the head coaching search.

“On the Mavericks’ HC search: There is a persistent belief in coaching circles that Toronto’s Jama Mahlalela, along with Minnesota’s Micah Nori and Houston’s Royal Ivey as covered yesterday, continues to factor into Masai Ujiri’s thinking if he opts to hire a current assistant,” reported Stein on X, formerly Twitter.

Ujiri worked extensively with Mahlalela during his time with the Toronto Raptors, so it certainly makes sense that he’d give the assistant a long look for the Mavericks’ head coaching job.

“Mahlalela, first reported by @TheSteinLine as a Dallas contender along with Nori, Ivey and Terry Stotts on June 4, has worked the closest with Ujiri to date among known candidates for the post. TBD whether new names emerge,” noted Stein.

Many were surprised when the Mavericks opted to move off of Kidd, especially after the strong rapport he had seemed to develop with Rookie of the Year winner Cooper Flagg, around whom Dallas is looking to construct a young and competent roster.

Meanwhile, Micah Nori has some head coaching experience with the Timberwolves, having taken over for Chris Finch during part of the team’s 2024 run to the Western Conference Finals.

In any case, the Mavericks will likely want to get the coaching vacancy filled sooner rather than later as the 2026 offseason continues.

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