{"id":147335,"date":"2025-06-27T10:55:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T14:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=147335"},"modified":"2025-06-27T11:11:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T15:11:30","slug":"breaking-raptors-part-ways-with-masai-ujiri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/27\/breaking-raptors-part-ways-with-masai-ujiri\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING! Raptors Part Ways With Masai Ujiri"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>TORONTO<\/strong> \u2013 In a move that has rattled the NBA landscape, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/raptors\/\" target=\"_self\">Toronto Raptors<\/a> and Masai Ujiri have ended a partnership that defined an era. The news, first confirmed by ESPN, comes just hours after the conclusion of this year\u2019s NBA Draft. For many, the abrupt nature of the decision by the Raptors only deepens the mystery around the future of<em>\u00a0<\/em>Masai Ujiri and the franchise he built.<\/p>\n<h2>BREAKING! Raptors Part Ways With Masai Ujiri<\/h2>\n<h3>A Sudden End to a Defining Tenure<\/h3>\n<p>Shams Charania of ESPN first reported the story on X, \u201cBREAKING: Masai Ujiri is out as Vice Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors.\u201d Shams added that Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment and Ujiri \u201cdecided to part ways\u201d despite Ujiri having a year left on his contract.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He brought an NBA Championship to Toronto and urged us to believe in this city, and ourselves. We are grateful for all he has done and wish him and his family the very best. As we plan for the franchise&#8217;s future, and its return to the NBA Playoffs, a search for the successor as president of the Raptors, led by CAA Executive Search, will begin immediately.&#8221; MLSE President &amp; CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement later on Friday morning.<\/p>\n<p>The Raptors chose a stunning moment to make this move public: the day after the NBA Draft. Teams usually settle their front offices before draft night to present a united front for offseason plans. Instead, the Raptors front office now looks unrecognizable without Masai Ujiri at the helm.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING: Masai Ujiri is out as Vice Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors, sources tell ESPN. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JIXUMUXz55\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/JIXUMUXz55<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/1938585295227699370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Behind the Decision<\/h3>\n<p>Footboom1.com <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.footboom1.com\/en\/news\/basketball\/2633920-why-masai-ujiri-left-as-raptors-president-after-nba-draft-key-insights\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pointed out<\/a> that while neither Ujiri nor the team gave a clear reason for the split, signs of a brewing shake-up were there. &#8220;The timing of Ujiri\u2019s departure is not coincidental,\u201d they wrote. He noted major shifts inside Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment, the Raptors\u2019 parent company. Bell Canada pulled back its stake while Rogers Communications tightened its hold.<\/p>\n<p>This reshuffle followed the <a  href=\"https:\/\/thehockeynews.com\/nhl\/toronto-maple-leafs\/latest-news\/mlse-ceo-keith-pelley-explains-decision-not-to-hire-new-maple-leafs-president-after-brendan-shanahan-s-dismissal\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">exits<\/a> of Brendan Shanahan and Bill Manning\u2014leaving Ujiri as the last high-level president still standing before this week\u2019s news.<\/p>\n<p>Another powerful figure, Larry Tanenbaum, had long been a strong supporter of Ujiri\u2019s influence in Toronto. His own exit last year likely made Ujiri\u2019s grip weaker.<\/p>\n<h3>The Raptors\u2019 Decline After Glory<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_147347\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-147347\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-147347\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_12919685_168415934_lowres-1024x763.jpg\" alt=\"Kawhi Leonard won a championship during Masai Ujiri\u2019s time at the helm of the Toronto Raptors \" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_12919685_168415934_lowres-1024x763.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_12919685_168415934_lowres-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_12919685_168415934_lowres-768x572.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_12919685_168415934_lowres-1536x1144.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_12919685_168415934_lowres.jpg 1757w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-147347\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jun 17, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (left) talks with president Masai Ujiri during a rally at Toronto City Hall (Nathan Phillips Square). Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When Ujiri joined Toronto in 2013, the Raptors lacked identity on the global stage. By the time he leaves, they are a recognized brand with a championship banner no one thought possible.<\/p>\n<p>Ujiri\u2019s defining moment came in 2018 when he traded <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/derozde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DeMar DeRozan<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/poeltja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jakob Poeltl<\/a> and a first-round pick for <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leonaka01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kawhi Leonard<\/a>. That risky gamble paid off in the biggest way. The Raptors defeated the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/warriors\/\" target=\"_self\">Golden State Warriors<\/a> in six games to win the 2019 NBA Finals. Leonard left for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/clippers\/\" target=\"_self\">Clippers<\/a> that summer, and the Raptors never recaptured that championship form.<\/p>\n<p>Recent years brought more pain. The team missed the playoffs for three straight seasons. They finished 30-52 this year. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/siakapa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pascal Siakam<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/anunoog01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">OG Anunoby<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vanvlfr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fred VanVleet<\/a>, who once powered Toronto\u2019s deep runs, now star for other teams.<\/p>\n<h3>Still Drafting Well, Even at the End<\/h3>\n<p>Despite the Raptors&#8217; struggles, Masai Ujiri never lost his knack for finding young talent. He drafted <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barnesc01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scottie Barnes<\/a> in 2021, Gradey Dick in 2023, and just this week oversaw the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/26\/collin-murray-boyles-raptors-draft-reasons\/\" target=\"_self\">selections<\/a> of <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/collin-murray-boyles-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Collin Murray-Boyles<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/alijah-martin-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alijah Martin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Ujiri\u2019s exit has stirred a cauldron of curiosity around the NBA. He was the first African general manager in any major North American sport and the NBA\u2019s Executive of the Year in Denver before his Toronto chapter.<\/p>\n<h3>What Comes Next for Ujiri and Toronto<\/h3>\n<p>Rumors already swirl about what comes next for\u00a0Ujiri. Before his exit, Toronto reportedly tried to land <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Durant<\/a> from Phoenix but missed out when he went to Houston. With a young core of <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barnesc01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scottie Barnes<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barrerj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RJ Barrett<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/ingrabr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Ingram<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/q\/quickim01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Immanuel Quickley<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/poeltja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jakob Poeltl<\/a>, the Raptors remain hopeful they can return to the postseason soon.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever happens, Ujiri\u2019s legacy is secure. Toronto will always remember the championship parade down Lake Shore Boulevard. More details will emerge in the days ahead, but one thing is clear now: Ujiri changed basketball in Canada forever.<\/p>\n<p><label>Credit:<\/label>\u00a9 Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TORONTO \u2013 In a move that has rattled the NBA landscape, the Toronto Raptors and Masai Ujiri have ended a partnership that defined an era. The news, first confirmed by ESPN, comes just hours after the conclusion of this year\u2019s NBA Draft. For many, the abrupt nature of the decision by the Raptors only deepens [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":147348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,3,14],"tags":[49926,114,50077],"class_list":["post-147335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-news","category-raptors","tag-front-office","tag-masai-ujiri","tag-nba-executive"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147335"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":147354,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147335\/revisions\/147354"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}