Masai Ujiri Departing from Raptors: A Look Back at His 2019 NBA Championship Glory

Masai Ujiri is leaving his role as president and vice chairman of the Toronto Raptors after an impressive 12 years. This news, reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, comes as Ujiri and the Raptors’ ownership group, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, mutually decided to part ways ahead of the last year of his contract.

When Ujiri joined the Raptors in 2013, he made history as the first African general manager in the four major North American sports leagues. During his time with the Raptors, he transformed the team significantly. Ujiri led them to their first and only NBA championship in 2019, marking a landmark moment for the franchise.

Before joining the Raptors, Ujiri spent three seasons with the Denver Nuggets, where he earned the NBA Executive of the Year honor and established a solid reputation for his bold decisions.

Under Ujiri’s leadership, the Raptors had a strong record of 545 wins and 419 losses, reaching the playoffs eight times in 12 seasons. This remarkable run included making the playoffs seven consecutive times between 2014 and 2020. From 2015 to 2020, the team even enjoyed winning 50 or more games for five straight seasons.

His most memorable move was trading DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a first-round draft pick to acquire Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. This high-risk gamble paid off when the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals, where Leonard was named MVP. After winning the title, Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Raptors struggled to maintain that level of success.

Though they reached the playoffs in 2020 and 2021, they only won one series during that time. Key players from the championship squad, like Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry, have since departed. Now, the Raptors are facing a challenging period, having missed the playoffs for three consecutive years. Last season, they finished with a 30-52 record.

Interestingly, Ujiri’s approach to building the team often involves making bold moves, like when the Raptors showed interest in trading for Kevin Durant before he was dealt to the Houston Rockets. Looking ahead, the Raptors have some promising young talent, including Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, which could lead to a return to contention in the Eastern Conference.

Recently, the Raptors added two rookies, Collin Murray-Boyles and Alijah Martin, which may signal a new direction for the team. As NBA free agency approaches, it will be the first time since 2013 that someone other than Ujiri makes key decisions for the Raptors.

As the league evolves, many fans are curious about how the Raptors will adapt under new leadership. Ujiri’s legacy, marked by bold decisions and significant achievements, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the team and its passionate fanbase. For a deeper look into the impact of Ujiri’s departure, NBA.com offers extensive coverage of team changes and trends in the league.

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