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Toronto Raptors will soon be under a new leadership. Masai Ujiri was fired as vice president and president of the franchise, the team announced the day after the NBA draft concluded.
Ujiri spent 13 seasons with the NBA franchise.
“During its 13 seasons with the Raptors, Masai has helped transform the organization into the court and has been an inspiring leader,” said Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley, in a statement.
“He brought a NBA championship to Toronto and urged us to believe in this city and ourselves. We are grateful for everything he has done and we want his family for him the best.”
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The president of Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, before a match against the Miami Heat in Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on February 21, 2025. (Kevin Sousa/Imagn images)
While Ujiri’s long season in the main office reached an abrupt end, other key members of the main office were preserved, including General Manager Bobby Webster. The team announced that Webster had received a contract extension.
Pelley expressed his confidence in Webster’s ability to lead the raptors basketball operations.
“We are sure that the Raptors organization, under the guide of Bobby and its team, is in a great place,” the statement continued. “They have a plan for the next season and beyond as the team continues their reconstruction, and we have confidence in their ability to execute and, ultimately, excel.”
The vice president and president of Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, speaks with the media in the Scotiabank area in Toronto on September 30, 2024. (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn images)
On Friday, Pelley approached the moment of the movement to separate from Ujiri, telling journalists that “more than a month ago,” Ujiri asked to work in the Draft.
“Why the moment now? Then, Masai and I talked to each other more than a month ago, and he asked that if a change occurred, which was after the draft,” Pelley told journalists on Friday. “And that made more sense, not interrupting the draft process.
“We were celebrating the ninth selection, a selection of the 10 best and, of course, Masai, not only its passion area but its area of specialization, is prolific when it comes to the draft. And we were grateful to have it as a person, with Bobby [Webster]leading our draft. “
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While the Raptors launch a search for a new team president, the remaining members of the main office will prepare for the NBA free agency period, which begins on Monday.
Toronto won only 30 games last season, and three years have passed since the team has advanced to the playoffs.
President Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors during the NBA Draft Lottery of 2025 on May 12, 2025 in Chicago. (Melissa Tamez/NBAE through Getty Images)
Ujiri got his first NBA general manager work in 2011 when the Denver Nuggets selected him for paper. He was appointed general manager of the Raptors in 2013. He received honors from the Executive of the League Year that season.
He also supervised the NBA 2019 championship of the Raptors.
