Breadcrumb Trail LinksCelebrityBasketballNBAToronto Raptors Get the latest from Mark Daniell straight to your inbox Sign Up Published Jun 30, 2025 • Last updated 7 minutes ago • 4 minute readDrake and Masai Ujiri seen during an announcement at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Monday Sept. 30, 2013. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk /Postmedia NetworkArticle contentAfter the Raptors announced that Masai Ujiri has been relieved of his duties, the club’s most famous fan is paying tribute to the team’s former vice-chairman and president.Advertisement 2THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsArticle contentIn a message shared with his 142 million Instagram followers, the Toronto rapper — who is the outfit’s Global Ambassador — bid a heartfelt goodbye to Ujiri, who replaced Bryan Colangelo in 2013.Article contentArticle content“My mentor and my friend. The city will miss you,” Drake wrote alongside of an image of Ujiri Photoshopped over the Toronto skyline. “Thank (you) for a unforgettable 13 years.” Drake reacted to the Toronto Raptors firing of Masai Ujiri with a heartfelt message. Photo by Drake /InstagramUnder Ujiri’s leadership, the Raptors earned seven straight NBA postseason berths between the 2013-2014 and 2019-20 seasons.Ujiri was also the chief architect of the team’s 2019 championship run, trading star player DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and hiring coach Nick Nurse ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.The longtime executive was heading into the final year of a five-year deal he inked in 2021, hoping to return the Raptors to NBA relevance after three years of missed postseason play.Your Midday SunYour noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againArticle contentAdvertisement 3Article contentBut after former franchise cornerstones like Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby were traded away only to find success with their new teams, not to mention Fred VanVleet (who left in free agency), Keith Pelley, the president and CEO of Raptors’ owners Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, said it was time for a front-office shakeup.“Thirteen seasons is an extremely long time in a sports leadership role,” Pelley told reporters Friday. “Change is inevitable. What we really thought was with the current status of our team and the foundation that Masai has built, that this was the time to make the change.”Pelley said the decision to part ways with Ujiri was made earlier this month, but he was allowed to stay on through to the end of the NBA Draft with the Raptors selecting Collin Murray-Boyles and Alijah Martin.Advertisement 4Article contentOne of music’s biggest stars, Drake was a long-time fixture much like Ujiri after he was tapped by the team more than a decade ago to become its Global Ambassador to help drum up excitement for the Raptors across Canada and the U.S.“I just really want excitement for this team,” Drake said back in 2013. “I want us to be one of the biggest teams in the league. I have a lot of friends in the NBA, but the opportunity to be a part of this NBA franchise at home has me more excited because it’s the team that represents where I’m from.”At the time, Drake, who Ujiri once called “the King of Toronto,” said he “would love nothing more than to bring a championship” to the city.“My goal is to add anything I can to this team,” he said.Over the years, Drake has been a staple at home games where he is frequently seen from his courtside seats cheering on the team. His October’s Very Own brand is also a sponsor of the club’s training facility and its gold and black colour scheme and owl logo figure into some of the squad’s on-court uniforms.Advertisement 5Article contentThemed “Welcome Toronto” nights also occur throughout the season in which Drake’s logo appears on the court.As part of the partnership, Drake and the team have donated over a million dollars to help refurbish local community basketball courts and have invested heavily in Canada Basketball to help grow the sport across the country.“It’s nice to have the uniforms and the fancy court and the merchandise and stuff like that, but what was most important to me was just the call to action,” Drake said in 2018. “In this day and age, it’s really easy to go on social media and talk about things that we’d like to see change or things that we think are wrong, then there’s an opportunity, when you’re presented with one, to be able to do something about it.Advertisement 6Article content“The biggest thing I’m most proud of with this partnership is the million dollars that we’re going to be giving to the city to redo these courts and, hopefully, to create an amazing atmosphere for anyone in that community to come out and either play casual basketball or potentially breed the next generation of Canadian basketball superstars, which goes to our other donation of $2 million to Canada Basketball who have produced incredible talent.” Drake, left, is given a diamond-studded jacket from Raptors president Masai Ujiri. Photo by Toronto Raptors /XWith the stands closed on-and-off during the pandemic, Drake was one of the few hundred fans that was allowed in the Scotiabank Arena during parts of the 2021-22 season.During one game, the Grammy winner tried to expand his role to include front office duties.“Masai not feeling my trade deadline plan,” Drake joked sharing a photo of the two to his Instagram.Advertisement 7Article content Drake and Masai Ujiri seen at Raptors game in 2022. Photo by Drake /InstagramPelley was asked about a rumoured rift between Ujiri and Edward Rogers, the executive chair of Rogers Communications, the majority owner of MLSE, but he said the decision to fire the popular exec was his alone.“At the end of the day, this was my decision, supported by the board,” he told the Sun’s Steve Simmons.On social media, Raptors fans sided with Drake as they blasted MLSE for dumping Ujiri. “Masai changed the entire franchise, brought us a championship, recruited great players and did some good trades. Good luck in finding another replacement of that calibre,” one critic swiped on Reddit.Meanwhile, former Raptor Danny Green, who was acquired along with Leonard in the trade for DeRozan in 2018, called Ujiri “legendary in the whole country of Canada.”After the Raptors finished with a 30-52 record last season, Ujiri was still promising Toronto’s return to the postseason and was upbeat as he looked ahead to next year.Oftentimes, he repeated the mantra: “We will win again in Toronto.”But if the team is able to do it, it won’t be with Ujiri at the helm.mdaniell@postmedia.comRead More Toronto Raptors draft pick Collin Murray-Boyles wants to see Drake rocking his jersey Drake jokes about being banned from Raptors broadcasts: 'I was born to commentate' Drake a no-show as LeBron James honours Vince Carter after Lakers beat Raptors Article contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation Featured Local Savings