Dallas Mavericks chief executive officer Cynthia Marshall is retiring at the end of the calendar year, she announced Tuesday.
Marshall, 64, had been with the franchise since March 2018, when she was hired by former majority owner Mark Cuban. Getting the job made her the NBA’s first-ever Black female CEO.
“My three-year commitment has more than doubled in time,” Marshall said in a letter to fellow employees that was obtained by ESPN’s Andscape. “I cherish every day of our journey together. We’ve made the Mavs better. We’ve made communities better. We’ve made our industry better. Y’all made me better. I pray that I’m leaving it better than I found it.
“I love you. I love our team. I love our fans. My wildest dreams would never have included being the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. Thank you for the experience of a lifetime for me and my family. We are Mavs Family and Fans for Life. You can count on us.”
ESPN reported that Marshall knew she was going to retire weeks ago, but it wasn’t until recently that she came to a retirement agreement with Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont.
“Cynt Marshall is a force of nature,” Dumont said in a statement. “I like to say her superpower is bringing people together, but the truth is she has many superpowers. Cynt has always gone above and beyond in everything she has done, and her leadership of the Dallas Mavericks is no exception. She is an indelible fixture in the history of this franchise, and we are eternally grateful. The positive impact she has had here will be felt for a very long time.”
Marshall will take on a consulting role with the Mavericks, a position she will have through December 2025.
Dallas went 50-32 last season and reached the NBA Finals, where it fell to the Boston Celtics in five games. The Mavericks will open the 2024-25 campaign against the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 24.
