Rick Welts, Dallas Mavericks CEO, to Share Career Insights at Bush Center Event

Rick Welts, Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas Mavericks, will be the featured speaker at an event hosted by the Bush Center Young Professionals and The Cary Council on April 8, 2026, at Old Parkland. The event, a live recording of the Learning from Leaders and Strategist podcast, will focus on Welts’ extensive career in professional sports.

A Veteran Leader in the NBA

Welts’ career spans over four decades, encompassing roles with the NBA league office and three NBA franchises. In 2025, he made history as the first executive in league history to serve as President or CEO of three different NBA teams [2]. He is also the only NBA team president or CEO to lead organizations that have won championships in the NBA, WNBA, and G League.

Previous Roles and Accomplishments

Prior to joining the Mavericks, Welts served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Golden State Warriors for a decade. During his tenure, the Warriors reached five consecutive NBA Finals, winning three championships. He also oversaw the development and opening of Chase Center in San Francisco. [2]

Before his time with the Warriors, Welts was President of the Phoenix Suns, overseeing business operations for the Suns and the Phoenix Mercury, leading the Mercury to two WNBA championships. He also spent 17 years at the NBA League Office, rising to Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, where he created NBA All-Star Weekend and led the marketing for the 1992 U.S. Olympic “Dream Team,” and co-launched the WNBA.

Pioneering Leadership and Recognition

Welts began his NBA career at age 16 as a ball boy for the Seattle SuperSonics and later served as the team’s director of media relations during their 1979 NBA championship season. In 2011, he publicly came out as gay, becoming the highest-ranking executive in men’s professional team sports to do so [4].

He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 and currently serves on its Board of Governors. Welts has received numerous awards recognizing his leadership, innovation, and inclusion, and will be inducted into the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame in June 2026.

Event Details

The event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center is open to Bush Center Young Professionals members. Space is limited, and registration requires logging into the Young Professionals membership portal. [3]