Masai Ujiri leaves Raptors after 12 years of collaboration

Masai Ujiri will no longer be the president of the Toronto Raptors. According to ESPN and Shams Charania, the 54-year-old Nigerian executive and ownership group Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment have decided to part ways by mutual agreement, as he was entering the final year of his contract for the 2025-2026 season.

This announcement comes the day after the NBA Draft concluded and just before the free agency period opens. The timing highlights the strategic changes underway at the Raptors after a disappointing season with 30 wins and 52 losses, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

BREAKING: Masai Ujiri is out as Vice Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/JIXUMUXz55

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2025

The architect of the 2019 title affected by internal changes

Arriving in Toronto in 2013 as executive vice-president and general manager, Masai Ujiri had succeeded his three-year stint with the Denver Nuggets. He is the architect of the 2019 NBA championship team, notably thanks to the successful gamble on Kawhi Leonard who delivered the first and only title in the Canadian franchise’s history.

Despite his status as a respected and coveted executive in the league, Ujiri’s departure is explained by the changing internal dynamics of the club. The president was supported by Larry Tanenbaum, founder of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, but the latter now only owns 25% of the conglomerate.

The situation became complicated with restructuring within the shareholding. Ujiri had the support of the Bell group, which held 37.5% of MLSE until last year, but Rogers Communications, the other telecom operator also owning 37.5%, apparently opposed his presence. Rogers had even voted against his previous contract extension.

When Rogers bought Bell’s shares to take control of 75% of the Raptors, the president’s fate seemed sealed. This separation confirms these internal tensions, although Ujiri should have no difficulty finding another executive position, whether in the NBA or elsewhere in world basketball.