[ad_1]
Masai Ujiri, the architect of the franchise’s 2019 NBA Championship team, has accepted a major new deal to become vice president and president of the Toronto Raptors, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
His old title was president.
After arriving in Toronto in 2013 as General Manager, Ujiri has established himself as one of the most prominent, successful and sought-after executives in professional sports. In the past year and months of his expiring contract, Ujiri has refused openings for several professional sports organizations beyond the NBA, sources said.
Ujiri will remain both the Raptors’ top basketball and business leader and a global philanthropist through his Giants of Africa initiative, sources said.
In a Twitter video posted by the Raptors on Thursday that made no reference to the deal, Ujiri opened up about his goals and those of the franchise.
“On the pitch, our goal is clear: to win. It’s simple: win. Bring another championship to Toronto. Ujiri said in the video. “We are united in this mission and nothing else will do. We will bring young talent to this city and continue to build with our amazing players. I have said it before and I will say it again: we will win in Toronto. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this team. I love being the leader of the Toronto Raptors and I’m here to stay.
Ujiri arrived in Toronto in 2013 after winning NBA Executive of the Year honors as Denver general manager and quickly turned the Raptors into an NBA contender and global franchise.
His trade to Kawhi Leonard in the summer of 2018 catapulted Toronto to the 2019 NBA championship
[ad_2]
Source link