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In 1990, the commissioner created a position just for her: special assistant to him. “I think I offered my condolences,” Welts says, laughing. “If you were living in the moment, I can’t imagine a tougher job. But also with a vote of confidence that he would’ve put her in that role.” She opened his mail in an era before email. She’d listen in on his calls; sit in on his meetings. She says he’d kick her out of his office, hang up on her and leave Post-its on her phone saying, “8 a.m. came by, you weren’t here.” She says his mantra was, “Micromanagement is underrated.” She’s sure it was partly “for show,” partly “just to kick you in the butt a little bit.” But she also believes the job was the opportunity of a lifetime, “just a master class in learning how to be a commissioner.” She was eternally grateful.
Little did she know, Stern was grooming her for it all. He had earlier begun asking her to write his speeches, which was a compliment, a sign of trust and a crapshoot — because there was no guarantee he’d use them. “Oh my gosh, he was the worst deliverer of speeches ever,” Welts says. “I can’t tell you how many times we were off-stage at some event, and he’ll look at you five minutes before he goes on and says, ‘What should I say today?’ And then he will go out and completely charm.” But Val wrote them, anyway — always pouring her heart and soul into them — even though she remembers Stern sometimes “tossing them in a garbage can as he was walking up the steps to the stage.” She hardly took it personally because he was better winging it anyway, “the envy of all of us.”
Dumont also used the press conference to reaffirm the Mavericks’ commitment to building a new home inside the city limits of Dallas. The project, which has been working its way through municipal channels with Mavericks executive Rick Welts leading the franchise’s side of the discussions, is being framed as a multi-decade investment rather than a short-term venue change.
During the interview with Dumont, The News expresses doubt whether Presti and Stevens in particular would be available before adding the caveat: “But you did somehow hire [Naismith Hall of Famer] Rick Welts” as CEO. To which Dumont laughs. “I have to tell you, I can't talk to any of those people now because it would be tampering. That's against league rules. And I will never do that. “So anything that you may have heard is just rumor and chatter. Because I actually can't talk to anyone until I get permission.
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Before coming to Dallas, Welts had a 10-year run with the Golden State Warriors. In Welts’ time in the Bay Area, he worked closely with Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers. An agent who went on to win two NBA Executive of the Year awards, Myers is comfortable in front of the camera and is known for his strong interpersonal skills — two qualities important to the Mavericks, team sources said, after watching Harrison struggle in both areas.
Internal candidates Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley — Dallas’ co-interim general managers since Nico Harrison’s firing in November — are under consideration to get the job. But the Mavericks, league sources said, also have ambitions of going big-game hunting. Team governor Patrick Dumont successfully persuaded NBA Hall of Famer Rick Welts to come out of retirement to run the Mavericks’ business side in one of his first major moves in charge of the team. The Athletic has reported since February that Dumont will target experienced, proven talent to run Dallas’ basketball side, as well.
Internal candidates Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley — Dallas’ co-interim general managers since Nico Harrison’s firing in November — are under consideration to get the job. But the Mavericks, league sources said, also have ambitions of going big-game hunting. Team governor Patrick Dumont successfully persuaded NBA Hall of Famer Rick Welts to come out of retirement to run the Mavericks’ business side in one of his first major moves in charge of the team. The Athletic has reported since February that Dumont will target experienced, proven talent to run Dallas’ basketball side, as well. But league insiders wonder if Dumont will be able to lure one of his top targets — and how he might pivot if he’s unsuccessful.
Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts on Tuesday sought to add context to comments he made during a sports economics panel last week, when he said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert first approached the Mavericks more than a year ago about City Hall likely being an available site for the team's new arena and entertainment district. Welts, who joined Mavericks President Ethan Casson for a lunch with D-FW media, characterized his remarks during Friday's panel as a "very quick answer that really didn't capture the context" of what he called a "very long conversation" more than a year ago with Tolbert. "We were discussing a variety of potential sites for a future Mavericks' arena," Welts said. "And in that conversation, she told me that it could cost hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate City Hall, and it could be that the city would have to consider moving out of City Hall. That really was the summation of our conversation."
They have narrowed their focus for the new arena to two locations: the 110-acre former home of Valley View and downtown Dallas. Welts said any decision on the arena's location beyond July would "start to put real pressure" on opening the venue in time for the 2031-2032 basketball season. When The Dallas Morning News asked if there is a possibility the American Airlines Center lease could be extended a year, if needed, Welts said, "No idea."
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The Mavericks said Kelliher, who spent 12 years in similar roles with the Chicago Bulls, will oversee finance and administrative matters, focusing on long-term investments. He will report to CEO Rick Welts. “We are pleased to welcome Kieran to the Mavericks,” Welts said in a statement. “His deep expertise in financial strategy and extensive NBA experience will play a meaningful role in the future of our organization and the exciting opportunities ahead.”
The appointment of Kelliher comes at a pivotal time for the organization. They are looking to unlock new and existing revenue streams as they prepare to leave the American Airlines Arena, their home since 2001, when their lease expires in 2031. In January, Welts told The Dallas Morning News they have narrowed their focus to two locations for an arena in Dallas. Those locations are downtown and the Valley View Center property, a sprawling 110-acre site at the corner of Preston Road and Interstate 635. He said a decision is expected by July.
During Thursday's 130-121 home loss versus the Sacramento Kings, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts revealed that majority owner Patrick Dumont is keeping ticket costs as is for the 2026-27 campaign. “It was one of the strangest meetings I've ever been in my 48 years in the league where you sit down with the owners,” Welts said on the Mavs' broadcast. “The staff has done two months of work to look for little areas here or there where tickets might be underpriced, even when you're in a year when you're not going to raise many prices.”
Rick Welts, CEO, Dallas Mavericks Yes, this is highly unlikely ... but insiders insist he would be a perfect stopgap if Silver unexpectedly left early. The reasons are clear — no one is more experienced or a better people person. Welts worked in the league office as far back as the 1980s and learned from David Stern. He was a key to the Warriors’ rebuild, a mastermind behind the construction of Chase Center and is focused on finding a new venue for Dallas. But he’s not a lawyer, has already retired once and doesn’t covet the top job.