Dirk Nowitzki Backs Mavs' Masai Ujiri, Says 'We Are In His Corner' After Nico Harrison Fallout

It's been an interesting few years for the Dallas Mavericks, with much of their turmoil orbiting the still-shocking decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But team legend Dirk Nowitzki believes new president Masai Ujiri will take the Mavs in a more promising direction.

"We are in his corner," he said during his annual tennis event (h/t Christian Clark of The Athletic). "We all want the Mavericks to go back to where they were. Just a few years ago, we were a Finals team. There is a lot of work to be done. We are excited."

Ujiri has been busy, firing head coach Jason Kidd and replacing him with Dusty May, drafting Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio de Larrea in the first round and adding players like Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and Tarik Biberovic various dealings. The goal is to build a contender around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, both in the short and long term.

"A lot of changes," Nowitzki noted. "Brought a lot of his own guys in. It will be a fun little ride watching how this is going to go. New coach. New general manager (Mike Schmitz). He has obviously done a lot. We will see how all this pans out."