Masai Ujiri says Goodbye to Toronto [Goodbye Video on Pg. 3]

[God Squad]

Too many new/young fans that don't have a clue what the Raptors were like before Masai came to town. I've accepted that he's gone and we need a new voice, but to bash him and his tenure without acknowledging he's been the best we've had in our history.

Wild stuff.

[JB7]

Build him a statue

Exactly - Masai is the first person that should get a statue for the Raps, but that will never happen under Rogers.

[JB7]

Masai didn't build a dynasty that won 5 titles though. Plenty of teams have moved on from executives who brought them a single title.

I think from a cultural standpoint he was a significant figure for this team. But from a results standpoint, he was replaceable.

there's a pretty good chance the raptors dont win anogher title for the rest of your lifetime. what he did here was near impossible.

Winning a title is hard. Especially in this market. But I don't think one title earns an executive a lifetime contract with a team. Kupchak won 5 titles with the Lakers and was still fired. Recent results matter. And even though I don't think Ed fired Masai for any of the right reasons, it's not inconceivable that Masai was let go.

I wonder how many people actually look at the list of NBA champions. It makes it clearly obvious how difficult it is for non-marquee markets to win, outside of drafting superstars that remain with the organization.

Of the current 30 NBA teams, there are:
- 10 that have never won a championship in their existence
- 8 that have won 1 championship (with 4 of those more recently, in the Raps, Nuggets, Cavs & Mavs)
- 4 have won 2 championships (including the Rockets because of Hakeem and Jordan's retirement, and Bucks with Kareem & Giannis chips)
- 3 have won 3 championships (including the Heat, with the Shaq 1 chip & Lebron 2 chips, and Detroit that included the Isaiah Thomas 2 chips)
- Spurs have won 5 championships, during the Duncan Dynasty
- Bulls have won 6 championships, because of the Jordan Dynasty
- Warriors have won 7 championships, with 4 under the Curry Dynasty
- Lakers have won 17 championships, because every superstar player in the league 'just happens' to end up there
- Celtics have won 18 championships, primarily because of the Bill Russell Dynasty (11 chips) and Bird Dynasty (3 chips)

What Masai did was almost a miracle, that I don't ever expect to see again in my lifetime.

[WaltFrazier]

there's a pretty good chance the raptors dont win anogher title for the rest of your lifetime. what he did here was near impossible.

Winning a title is hard. Especially in this market. But I don't think one title earns an executive a lifetime contract with a team. Kupchak won 5 titles with the Lakers and was still fired. Recent results matter. And even though I don't think Ed fired Masai for any of the right reasons, it's not inconceivable that Masai was let go.

I wonder how many people actually look at the list of NBA champions. It makes it clearly obvious how difficult it is for non-marquee markets to win, outside of drafting superstars that remain with the organization.

Of the current 30 NBA teams, there are:
- 10 that have never won a championship in their existence
- 8 that have won 1 championship (with 4 of those more recently, in the Raps, Nuggets, Cavs & Mavs)
- 4 have won 2 championships (including the Rockets because of Hakeem and Jordan's retirement, and Bucks with Kareem & Giannis chips)
- 3 have won 3 championships (including the Heat, with the Shaq 1 chip & Lebron 2 chips, and Detroit that included the Isaiah Thomas 2 chips)
- Spurs have won 5 championships, during the Duncan Dynasty
- Bulls have won 6 championships, because of the Jordan Dynasty
- Warriors have won 7 championships, with 4 under the Curry Dynasty
- Lakers have won 17 championships, because every superstar player in the league 'just happens' to end up there
- Celtics have won 18 championships, primarily because of the Bill Russell Dynasty (11 chips) and Bird Dynasty (3 chips)

What Masai did was almost a miracle, that I don't ever expect to see again in my lifetime.

That list provides a good perspective, and of course supports the idea the NBA is rigged towards marquee markets.

As an aside, does the group of 2 titles include Seattle/OKC? It's the same franchise, just as 4 Lakers titles were in Minneapolis with George Mikan. More than once on TV this past finals I heard the phrase, first championship in franchise history re the Thunder. Which is incorrect

[WaltFrazier]

Bittersweet... after having seen so many former Raptors leave Toronto and see great success (Pascal, Norman, Derozan, OG, etc) I can't help but feel proud of them -- things didn't work out here, but I loved seeing them grow elsewhere! I was always optimistic (well, mostly) about the moves Masai made; it sucked seeing Pascal leave, but I trusted the return panning out. Obviously sucked having Demar taken from us, but it worked out for the best for us and he showed some amazing growth himself. There's a few losses that I think that.... ya, we should've gotten more or even something *cough FVV* but whatever. We don't nail them all, but at least we made an effort and the person pulling the trigger wasn't Collarman.

Kawhi is a bit of a weird situation since, well, he gave us everything he had. He could've chosen not to play in the ECF or the Finals (we all saw him limping) and save himself for his final destination, but he gave it his all and it seems like Masai had genuine respect for him doing what he felt he needed to do. Our kids go to the same school, he said. It showed his brotherly love for a man who must be regarded as the best mercenary hire in sport's history. I've adopted the same, non-grudging attitude towards Mr. Leonard. And hey, 2020 was an awesome season. Who knows how it pans out if COVID never happened?

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that someone leaving this organization hurt but I felt happy and the reason why I felt happy was that everyone was moving onto bigger and better things. Us. The players! The human beings! The perception of an upward trend was in large part because of trust in Masai. He touched gold once, we thought, and he'd do it again. Alas, he will not be doing that for us anymore, and that makes the pain of the other partings a bit more painful. Can I trust our return on the Pacers trades without Masai here? Can I dream the Scottie dream? What about the BI acquisition?

I wanted to see him on another franchise and to see how he'd do; to join the Pantheon of former Raptors who are wreaking havoc on the league, destroying the fan bases that once looked down on us by donning another jersey and crushing them on the court. It was great watching Pascal destroy Cleveland -- who dubbed us with the horrible moniker of LEBRONTO -- these play-offs, and seeing Mr. Scarves kill those terrible Celtics. It was great watching Anunoby destroy the 76ers in 2024. I thought it'd be the same for Masai but that's just not in it for him. Alas, his rizz is taking him where his heart is. It's admirable, really.

I hope that one day he comes back to the NBA. That this city is a bit more like it was in 2013. Looking back, that was an extremely hard year for me... but it was the start of my love for the Raptors being shared with the entire city! I survived the Bargnani era, and the fact that we were a play-off fixture for the 5 years after meant the world to me, nevermind 2019. It's surreal.

I wish that the people I lost back then, 12 years ago, could've lived to see the years of Masai. Time flies my friends. The years clock on. Continue loving your people, cherishing them! One day they won't be here, but while they are, try to enjoy the beautiful game of basketball with them! And cherish the people who are putting the product out there. They'll have choices to make in their own lives, the same choices that confront all of us -- do I stick around with a **** boss, do I stay with my delinquent family, do I take a new job in another city for the sake of my kids, do I even care about this job with my parents getting older and sicker? It's alll goooood in the hoooood.

2019 forever!! The rizz of 2019 continues on!! Masai, we believe in ourselves! We believe in this city! And through this movement I have dedicated myself to, the rizz of Toronto will resound through ALL social media. TikTok. Twitter. X. Instagram. The chat on StreamEast/Crackstreams. They will all know... the rizz... of Toronto!

I usually get a kick out of your posts Clay, a laugh or chuckle. But this is your greatest, most heartfelt, most eloquent post. I salute you sir.

[WaltFrazier]

Masai Ujiri is going global.

The former Toronto Raptors president was appointed as a United Nations sustainable goals development advocate on Thursday, according a release sent out by Giants of Africa.


Ujiri, who parted with the Raptors in June, will join a group of international leaders in the SDG group, which aims to end global poverty and hunger while increasing well-being and education.

“Sport doesn't just unite people — it breaks down barriers, builds hope and transforms entire communities," Ujiri said in the press release. "Joining the SDG advocates is a tremendous honour, and I'm excited to be part of a global movement that empowers youth and drives meaningful change around the world."

Ujiri, 55, was born in England and raised in Nigeria before coming to North America and working in the NBA with the Raptors and Denver Nuggets. He founded Giants of Africa, which aims to empower the continent's youth through basketball.

The 80th session of the UN General Assembly will take place in New York from Sept. 9-23.

One day before its start, Ujiri will debut Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League — a documentary series focusing on Basketball Africa League — at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Raptors recently announced that general manager Bobby Webster would take over from Ujiri as head of basketball operations.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/ex-raptors-president-masai-ujiri-takes-role-as-advocate-at-united-nations/

I honestly think he'd enjoy a political and/or humanitarian role more than managing a new NBA team, at this stage of his career.

You might be right about the last point, who knows. But he's only 55. Most guys like him, executives or coaches, have a burning desire to compete. It's why guys like JVG , David Griffin and many others leave cushy high paying TV gigs for example, to go back to the sideline or front office. If Masai really doesn't go back to an NBA job, that's his choice and more power to him. But it will also lend credence to the idea that he lost some of that competitive desire and focus even in his post championship Raptors years.

[JB7]

Winning a title is hard. Especially in this market. But I don't think one title earns an executive a lifetime contract with a team. Kupchak won 5 titles with the Lakers and was still fired. Recent results matter. And even though I don't think Ed fired Masai for any of the right reasons, it's not inconceivable that Masai was let go.

I wonder how many people actually look at the list of NBA champions. It makes it clearly obvious how difficult it is for non-marquee markets to win, outside of drafting superstars that remain with the organization.

Of the current 30 NBA teams, there are:
- 10 that have never won a championship in their existence
- 8 that have won 1 championship (with 4 of those more recently, in the Raps, Nuggets, Cavs & Mavs)
- 4 have won 2 championships (including the Rockets because of Hakeem and Jordan's retirement, and Bucks with Kareem & Giannis chips)
- 3 have won 3 championships (including the Heat, with the Shaq 1 chip & Lebron 2 chips, and Detroit that included the Isaiah Thomas 2 chips)
- Spurs have won 5 championships, during the Duncan Dynasty
- Bulls have won 6 championships, because of the Jordan Dynasty
- Warriors have won 7 championships, with 4 under the Curry Dynasty
- Lakers have won 17 championships, because every superstar player in the league 'just happens' to end up there
- Celtics have won 18 championships, primarily because of the Bill Russell Dynasty (11 chips) and Bird Dynasty (3 chips)

What Masai did was almost a miracle, that I don't ever expect to see again in my lifetime.

That list provides a good perspective, and of course supports the idea the NBA is rigged towards marquee markets.

As an aside, does the group of 2 titles include Seattle/OKC? It's the same franchise, just as 4 Lakers titles were in Minneapolis with George Mikan. More than once on TV this past finals I heard the phrase, first championship in franchise history re the Thunder. Which is incorrect

Yes, the list includes OKC's 2 (2025 and Seattle SuperSonics win in 1979).

Also the list of teams with 1 chip includes Sacramento, when they won their chip in 1951 as the Rochester Royals, and Atlanta, when they won in 1958 as the St. Louis Hawks. So as the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks, they have never actually won a chip.

And 5 of the Lakers 17 chips were won as the Minneapolis Lakers under the George Mikan Dynasty. Then as the Lakers, 1 with Chamberlain & West, 5 with Kareen & Magic Dynasty, 3 Kobe & Shaq, 2 with Kobe & Gasol, and Lebron & Davis' 1 chip in LA.

[Raps in 4]

Winning a title is hard. Especially in this market. But I don't think one title earns an executive a lifetime contract with a team. Kupchak won 5 titles with the Lakers and was still fired. Recent results matter. And even though I don't think Ed fired Masai for any of the right reasons, it's not inconceivable that Masai was let go.

I wonder how many people actually look at the list of NBA champions. It makes it clearly obvious how difficult it is for non-marquee markets to win, outside of drafting superstars that remain with the organization.

Of the current 30 NBA teams, there are:
- 10 that have never won a championship in their existence
- 8 that have won 1 championship (with 4 of those more recently, in the Raps, Nuggets, Cavs & Mavs)
- 4 have won 2 championships (including the Rockets because of Hakeem and Jordan's retirement, and Bucks with Kareem & Giannis chips)
- 3 have won 3 championships (including the Heat, with the Shaq 1 chip & Lebron 2 chips, and Detroit that included the Isaiah Thomas 2 chips)
- Spurs have won 5 championships, during the Duncan Dynasty
- Bulls have won 6 championships, because of the Jordan Dynasty
- Warriors have won 7 championships, with 4 under the Curry Dynasty
- Lakers have won 17 championships, because every superstar player in the league 'just happens' to end up there
- Celtics have won 18 championships, primarily because of the Bill Russell Dynasty (11 chips) and Bird Dynasty (3 chips)

What Masai did was almost a miracle, that I don't ever expect to see again in my lifetime.

That list provides a good perspective, and of course supports the idea the NBA is rigged towards marquee markets.

As an aside, does the group of 2 titles include Seattle/OKC? It's the same franchise, just as 4 Lakers titles were in Minneapolis with George Mikan. More than once on TV this past finals I heard the phrase, first championship in franchise history re the Thunder. Which is incorrect

The NBA is the most blatantly rigged of all the major North American sports leagues. No other league has a darling team that they facilitate trades for and gift with twice as many foul calls as the rest of the league.

[WaltFrazier]

I wonder how many people actually look at the list of NBA champions. It makes it clearly obvious how difficult it is for non-marquee markets to win, outside of drafting superstars that remain with the organization.

Of the current 30 NBA teams, there are:
- 10 that have never won a championship in their existence
- 8 that have won 1 championship (with 4 of those more recently, in the Raps, Nuggets, Cavs & Mavs)
- 4 have won 2 championships (including the Rockets because of Hakeem and Jordan's retirement, and Bucks with Kareem & Giannis chips)
- 3 have won 3 championships (including the Heat, with the Shaq 1 chip & Lebron 2 chips, and Detroit that included the Isaiah Thomas 2 chips)
- Spurs have won 5 championships, during the Duncan Dynasty
- Bulls have won 6 championships, because of the Jordan Dynasty
- Warriors have won 7 championships, with 4 under the Curry Dynasty
- Lakers have won 17 championships, because every superstar player in the league 'just happens' to end up there
- Celtics have won 18 championships, primarily because of the Bill Russell Dynasty (11 chips) and Bird Dynasty (3 chips)

What Masai did was almost a miracle, that I don't ever expect to see again in my lifetime.

That list provides a good perspective, and of course supports the idea the NBA is rigged towards marquee markets.

As an aside, does the group of 2 titles include Seattle/OKC? It's the same franchise, just as 4 Lakers titles were in Minneapolis with George Mikan. More than once on TV this past finals I heard the phrase, first championship in franchise history re the Thunder. Which is incorrect

Yes, the list includes OKC's 2 (2025 and Seattle SuperSonics win in 1979).

Also the list of teams with 1 chip includes Sacramento, when they won their chip in 1951 as the Rochester Royals, and Atlanta, when they won in 1958 as the St. Louis Hawks. So as the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks, they have never actually won a chip.

And 5 of the Lakers 17 chips were won as the Minneapolis Lakers under the George Mikan Dynasty. Then as the Lakers, 1 with Chamberlain & West, 5 with Kareen & Magic Dynasty, 3 Kobe & Shaq, 2 with Kobe & Gasol, and Lebron & Davis' 1 chip in LA.

Yeah the Lakers titles include 1 or 2 from before the NBA was the NBA. There were two competing leagues the NBL and the BAA that merged. The Lakers won the NBL title, switched to the BAA and won again, then came the merger. I think NBA records only count one of the pre merger titles but not the other.

Lakers' three-year streak of championships came to an end in 1951, when they lost to the Rochester Royals in the NBA Western Division Finals. Nevertheless, they rebounded from that defeat to capture the title for the next three consecutive years, thus becoming the NBA's first "dynasty", having won six NBL/BAA/NBA championships in seven years.

So really six with Mikan but one doesn't count?

The Kings history is interesting.

Rochester Royals
1945–1948 (NBL)
1948–1957 (BAA/NBA)

Cincinnati Royals
1957–1972

Kansas City-Omaha Kings
1972–1975

Kansas City Kings
1975–1985

Sacramento Kings
1985–present[1][2][3]

Cincinnati had the Oscar Robertson years. KC -Omaha had Nate Archibald who led the league in scoring and assists one year. And in 1981 the KC Kings got to the WCF despite losing two starting guards to injury. So Sacramento is three or four times removed from the Rochester Royals championship.

And some of the titles we're talking about, the Rochester one and all but Mikan's last title, predated the 24 second clock.

Ok, sorry, back to Masai.

[JB7]

I wonder how many people actually look at the list of NBA champions. It makes it clearly obvious how difficult it is for non-marquee markets to win, outside of drafting superstars that remain with the organization.

Of the current 30 NBA teams, there are:
- 10 that have never won a championship in their existence
- 8 that have won 1 championship (with 4 of those more recently, in the Raps, Nuggets, Cavs & Mavs)
- 4 have won 2 championships (including the Rockets because of Hakeem and Jordan's retirement, and Bucks with Kareem & Giannis chips)
- 3 have won 3 championships (including the Heat, with the Shaq 1 chip & Lebron 2 chips, and Detroit that included the Isaiah Thomas 2 chips)
- Spurs have won 5 championships, during the Duncan Dynasty
- Bulls have won 6 championships, because of the Jordan Dynasty
- Warriors have won 7 championships, with 4 under the Curry Dynasty
- Lakers have won 17 championships, because every superstar player in the league 'just happens' to end up there
- Celtics have won 18 championships, primarily because of the Bill Russell Dynasty (11 chips) and Bird Dynasty (3 chips)

What Masai did was almost a miracle, that I don't ever expect to see again in my lifetime.

That list provides a good perspective, and of course supports the idea the NBA is rigged towards marquee markets.

As an aside, does the group of 2 titles include Seattle/OKC? It's the same franchise, just as 4 Lakers titles were in Minneapolis with George Mikan. More than once on TV this past finals I heard the phrase, first championship in franchise history re the Thunder. Which is incorrect

The NBA is the most blatantly rigged of all the major North American sports leagues. No other league has a darling team that they facilitate trades for and gift with twice as many foul calls as the rest of the league.

And it is seems almost completely obvious that Giannis is going to end up on the Lakers with Luka, for another Lakers Dynasty run.

[Raps in 4]

That list provides a good perspective, and of course supports the idea the NBA is rigged towards marquee markets.

As an aside, does the group of 2 titles include Seattle/OKC? It's the same franchise, just as 4 Lakers titles were in Minneapolis with George Mikan. More than once on TV this past finals I heard the phrase, first championship in franchise history re the Thunder. Which is incorrect

The NBA is the most blatantly rigged of all the major North American sports leagues. No other league has a darling team that they facilitate trades for and gift with twice as many foul calls as the rest of the league.

And it is seems almost completely obvious that Giannis is going to end up on the Lakers with Luka, for another Lakers Dynasty run.

Giannis for Reaves + Rui + #1 pick in 2029 incoming.

[anotherhomer]

The NBA is the most blatantly rigged of all the major North American sports leagues. No other league has a darling team that they facilitate trades for and gift with twice as many foul calls as the rest of the league.

And it is seems almost completely obvious that Giannis is going to end up on the Lakers with Luka, for another Lakers Dynasty run.

Giannis for Reaves + Rui + #1 pick next year incoming.

not happening.....

[Raps in 4]

And it is seems almost completely obvious that Giannis is going to end up on the Lakers with Luka, for another Lakers Dynasty run.

Giannis for Reaves + Rui + #1 pick next year incoming.

not happening.....

Yeah, you're right. Bucks don't own their pick next year. Silver can't give them the #1 pick until 2029.

But on a serious note, the league's priority since the 70s has been to have a Lakers dynasty every decade since they believe that makes them the most money. It really is an uphill battle for other teams. You either need to luck out into an ATG (Jordan, Duncan, Curry) and have good management at the time to have any sort of chance at sustained winning, or pull off something like Masai did in 2019 with a mercenary superstar. If your team is struggling with their newly drafted superstar, you can bet good money he'll end up in a Lakers or Heat jersey by his second contract. We just saw that even when a young superstar shows loyalty to a team, the league can still trade that player to the Lakers.

[Quattro]

Read on Twitter

[Clay Davis]

Bittersweet... after having seen so many former Raptors leave Toronto and see great success (Pascal, Norman, Derozan, OG, etc) I can't help but feel proud of them -- things didn't work out here, but I loved seeing them grow elsewhere! I was always optimistic (well, mostly) about the moves Masai made; it sucked seeing Pascal leave, but I trusted the return panning out. Obviously sucked having Demar taken from us, but it worked out for the best for us and he showed some amazing growth himself. There's a few losses that I think that.... ya, we should've gotten more or even something *cough FVV* but whatever. We don't nail them all, but at least we made an effort and the person pulling the trigger wasn't Collarman.

Kawhi is a bit of a weird situation since, well, he gave us everything he had. He could've chosen not to play in the ECF or the Finals (we all saw him limping) and save himself for his final destination, but he gave it his all and it seems like Masai had genuine respect for him doing what he felt he needed to do. Our kids go to the same school, he said. It showed his brotherly love for a man who must be regarded as the best mercenary hire in sport's history. I've adopted the same, non-grudging attitude towards Mr. Leonard. And hey, 2020 was an awesome season. Who knows how it pans out if COVID never happened?

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that someone leaving this organization hurt but I felt happy and the reason why I felt happy was that everyone was moving onto bigger and better things. Us. The players! The human beings! The perception of an upward trend was in large part because of trust in Masai. He touched gold once, we thought, and he'd do it again. Alas, he will not be doing that for us anymore, and that makes the pain of the other partings a bit more painful. Can I trust our return on the Pacers trades without Masai here? Can I dream the Scottie dream? What about the BI acquisition?

I wanted to see him on another franchise and to see how he'd do; to join the Pantheon of former Raptors who are wreaking havoc on the league, destroying the fan bases that once looked down on us by donning another jersey and crushing them on the court. It was great watching Pascal destroy Cleveland -- who dubbed us with the horrible moniker of LEBRONTO -- these play-offs, and seeing Mr. Scarves kill those terrible Celtics. It was great watching Anunoby destroy the 76ers in 2024. I thought it'd be the same for Masai but that's just not in it for him. Alas, his rizz is taking him where his heart is. It's admirable, really.

I hope that one day he comes back to the NBA. That this city is a bit more like it was in 2013. Looking back, that was an extremely hard year for me... but it was the start of my love for the Raptors being shared with the entire city! I survived the Bargnani era, and the fact that we were a play-off fixture for the 5 years after meant the world to me, nevermind 2019. It's surreal.

I wish that the people I lost back then, 12 years ago, could've lived to see the years of Masai. Time flies my friends. The years clock on. Continue loving your people, cherishing them! One day they won't be here, but while they are, try to enjoy the beautiful game of basketball with them! And cherish the people who are putting the product out there. They'll have choices to make in their own lives, the same choices that confront all of us -- do I stick around with a **** boss, do I stay with my delinquent family, do I take a new job in another city for the sake of my kids, do I even care about this job with my parents getting older and sicker? It's alll goooood in the hoooood.

2019 forever!! The rizz of 2019 continues on!! Masai, we believe in ourselves! We believe in this city! And through this movement I have dedicated myself to, the rizz of Toronto will resound through ALL social media. TikTok. Twitter. X. Instagram. The chat on StreamEast/Crackstreams. They will all know... the rizz... of Toronto!

I usually get a kick out of your posts Clay, a laugh or chuckle. But this is your greatest, most heartfelt, most eloquent post. I salute you sir.

Thank you brother. Without Masai I would never have had the conviction to carry myself and this movement with me. He will always be with me, and my rizz is his, and his is mine.

[God Squad]

Before Masai vs With Masai

No. of seasons
BM|WM
18 |12

Win pct
0.407|0.565

Win pct rank
26th|5th

Playoff app.
5|8

Playoff wins
11|46

NBA titles
0|1

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6456747/2025/06/27/masai-ujiri-raptors-parted-ways-nba-timeline/

In Masai we trus...

[Hero]

Too many new/young fans that don't have a clue what the Raptors were like before Masai came to town. I've accepted that he's gone and we need a new voice, but to bash him and his tenure without acknowledging he's been the best we've had in our history.

Wild stuff.

I more or less remember where I was when the news broke about BC being finally gone from the Raptors.
Masai was such a massive upgrade.

[Tha Cynic]

Said it before and will say it again - the picture that I have framed is the one of Kyle and Masai hugging after the championship. They helped achieve something thought I would never see in Toronto. Winning a champion in basketball in Toronto where no one signs with you isn’t easy. That to me is as iconic as Kobe fist pump and the one of his standing on the table with his hands outstretched with the ball in his hands.

Always felt he was going to do something world stage. He will probably get back to basketball in the near future after trying other things.