NBA Raptors drop Ujiri as president after 13 seasons
Masai Ujiri, who oversaw a 2019 NBA champion run, has been axed as president and vice-chairman of the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leaf Sports and Home Entertainment (MLSE) revealed Friday.The 54-year-old
English-born executive has British, Nigerian, Kenyan and Canadian citizenship. He was named the NBA’s Executive of the Year in 2013 while with Denver, the only non-US winner of the award.Advertisement “Throughout his
13 seasons with
the Raptors, Masai has actually helped transform the company on the court and has been an inspirational leader off it,” MLSE President and chief executive officer Keith Pelley stated.
“He brought an NBA championship to Toronto and urged us to think in this city and ourselves. We are grateful for all he has actually done and want him and his family the best.”
The Raptors, nevertheless, went 30-52 this previous season, missing the NBA playoffs for the 3rd year in a row and fourth time in five seasons. They have not won a playoff series considering that surpassing Brooklyn in the 2020 opening round.
“As we plan for the franchise’s future, and its go back to the NBA playoffs, a search for the successor as president of the Raptors, led by CAA Executive Search, will start right away.”
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The relocation came a day after the NBA Draft and simply ahead of next week’s start of NBA free agency.The Raptors
revealed they would keep crucial front office workers, including basic supervisor Bobby Webster, who got an agreement extension, the regards to which were not revealed.
“We are positive that the Raptors organization, under the guidance of Bobby and his team, is in an excellent location,” Pelley said. “They have a plan in place for next season and beyond as the group continues its reconstruct, and we believe in their ability to carry out and eventually, to stand out.
“We feel the group remains in a strong, stable location, and our company believe the addition of a brand-new president will continue to move the Raptors forward, towards our next NBA championship.”
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Ujiri played his whole on-court career in Europe, consisting of a stint with England’s Derby Rams, before signing up with the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets as a scout. He was employed by the Raptors as worldwide scouting director and in 2008 ended up being Toronto’s assistant basic manager.He returned
to Denver in 2010 as executive vice president and general supervisor, the very first African basic manager in significant American sports.The Nuggets
won a club-record 57 games in 2012-13, with Ujiri being called the league’s top executive, and Ujiri signed with the Raptors as executive vice president and basic manager in May 2013.
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