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NBA: Why Masai Ujiri was out as Vice Chairman and President of Toronto Raptors

Why Masai Ujiri was out as VC and President of Toronto Raptors after NBA Draft. Exploring potential reasons

ByYash Nitish Bajaj

Jun 27, 2025 07:20 PM IST

Masai Ujiri on Thursday stepped down as the Vice Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors

Masai Ujiri on Thursday stepped down as the Vice Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors, ESPN reported, citing sources. The report further added that Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and Ujiri have decided to part ways, as the executive was entering the final year of his contract.

Masai Ujiri and Toronto Raptors have parted ways(X)

Masai Ujiri and Toronto Raptors have parted ways(X)

This comes only hours after the NBA Draft concluded. Ujiri, who joined the Raptors in 2013 and signed a significant contract extension in 2021, was in the final year of his deal. His departure from a franchise he transformed into a global brand has sparked speculation about the reasons behind it.

While the Raptors or Ujiri have not issued a statement yet, we are listing potential reasons behind the massive move.

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Ownership and organizational changes at MLSE

Ujiri’s exit aligns with significant shifts at MLSE, the Raptors’ parent company. In 2024, Bell Canada began selling its stake to Rogers Communications, giving Rogers majority control. This followed the departure of Brendan Shanahan as Toronto Maple Leafs president and Bill Manning as Toronto FC president, leaving Ujiri as MLSE’s last team president.

The restructuring, coupled with the exit of Larry Tanenbaum, a close ally who facilitated Ujiri’s past deals, may have strained his position.

Recent team performance

The Raptors’ lackluster performance post-2019 championship likely contributed. After a 30-52 record in 2024-25, marking three straight non-playoff seasons, Ujiri faced scrutiny over the team’s direction.

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Despite successes like drafting Scottie Barnes (2021, No. 4) and trading for Brandon Ingram (2025), the Raptors remained 'tweeners'—neither contenders nor lottery-bound.

Other NBA teams?

Ujiri’s status as a sought-after executive may have influenced his departure. In May 2025, the Atlanta Hawks expressed interest in hiring him as president of basketball operations.

Other teams, including the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks, previously pursued him with lucrative offers, some nearing $10 million annually with ownership equity.

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