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

[Purple+Black]

Can we edit the video into the OP and pin this thread for the year?

Pin it to the Raptors RealGM rafters forever. Fitting for RealGM, think about it.

Mods, get’er done

[binjumper]

Still feels weird.

So many raptors that I thought would be staples for the franchise Tim Duncan, Greg popovich style that just fell out within a year out of nowhere. Business is business I guess.

Nah there is good owners and bad ones. We got a bad one right now. This man is more than just basketball to Toronto. He's our chieftain.

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

[WuTang_CMB]

God Bless Masai.

https://youtu.be/8kplcKlPHiU?t=691

[Childs]

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/

[Raps in 4]

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.

[Raps in 4]

Still feels weird.

So many raptors that I thought would be staples for the franchise Tim Duncan, Greg popovich style that just fell out within a year out of nowhere. Business is business I guess.

We've never had a Pop or a Duncan. Had the Spurs not had the success they did, with both Pop and Timmy both benefiting from the other's skills, that organization would have moved on from both of them.

[right between the eyes]

We always knew Masai was bigger than basketball. Congrats Masai! You will do great as always! Wonder if this puts a return to the NBA on hold for now.

[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!

[Boogie!]

Still feels weird.

So many raptors that I thought would be staples for the franchise Tim Duncan, Greg popovich style that just fell out within a year out of nowhere. Business is business I guess.

We've never had a Pop or a Duncan. Had the Spurs not had the success they did, with both Pop and Timmy both benefiting from the other's skills, that organization would have moved on from both of them.

we had a Masai.

[Raps in 4]

So many raptors that I thought would be staples for the franchise Tim Duncan, Greg popovich style that just fell out within a year out of nowhere. Business is business I guess.

We've never had a Pop or a Duncan. Had the Spurs not had the success they did, with both Pop and Timmy both benefiting from the other's skills, that organization would have moved on from both of them.

we had a Masai.

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.

[djsunyc]

We've never had a Pop or a Duncan. Had the Spurs not had the success they did, with both Pop and Timmy both benefiting from the other's skills, that organization would have moved on from both of them.

we had a Masai.

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.

[vini_vidi_vici]

we had a Masai.

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.

This isnt directed at anyone in particular (not Raps in 4/etc..), but the same people who think winning a single title makes a president replaceable, are the same ones who think the Raps cant ever get a tier 1 FA, who think they cant retain elite assets, etc.. (which has merit).

In 2018-19 post-Kawhi trade, I still told everyone, this team will never win a title in my lifetime. I will cherish it forever and my hopes are they win again, but I dont think its probable, regardless of what they do in drafts/FA/trades.

[Hero]

Wow that was quite touching.

[TheAlchemist23]

The guy had no interest in properly running a NBA team, too many seasons wasted for no reason

please don't troll.

[Quattro]

The guy had no interest in properly running a NBA team, too many seasons wasted for no reason

Go watch the leafs.

[Raps in 4]

we had a Masai.

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.

[Johnny Bball]

The guy had no interest in properly running a NBA team, too many seasons wasted for no reason

that's just a dumb assumption and pretty unnecessary

[xAIRNESSx]

Build him a statue

[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/