History of Masai Ujiri in Timeline
Masai Ujiri is a Nigerian-Canadian professional basketball executive and former player. He is currently the president of the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ujiri's executive career began as an international scout, leading to roles with the Denver Nuggets where he became Executive of the Year in 2013. He then joined the Raptors, building a championship-winning team in 2019. He is also known for his humanitarian work, particularly through his Giants of Africa foundation, which focuses on basketball development and education for African youth.
4 hours ago : Masai Ujiri: From Raptors to Mavericks President, New Chapter Begins
Masai Ujiri is reportedly joining the Dallas Mavericks as president and alternate governor. He will take on a lead basketball executive role after his time with the Raptors.
July 7, 1970: Masai Ujiri Born
On July 7, 1970, Michael Masai Ujiri was born in the United Kingdom.
2002: Ujiri Becomes a Scout
In 2002, Masai Ujiri became a scout, initially for the Orlando Magic.
2002: Becomes an Unpaid Scout for the Orlando Magic
In 2002, Masai Ujiri became an unpaid scout for the NBA's Orlando Magic, paying his own way when he had to and sharing rooms with scouts or players.
2008: Becomes Raptors' Assistant General Manager
In 2008, Masai Ujiri became the Toronto Raptors' assistant general manager.
2008: Joins Toronto Raptors Backroom Staff
In 2008, Masai Ujiri joined the backroom staff of the Toronto Raptors.
2010: Returns to Nuggets as General Manager
In 2010, Masai Ujiri returned to the Denver Nuggets as general manager and executive vice president in charge of basketball operations, becoming the first African general manager in major American sports.
May 31, 2013: Signed with Toronto Raptors
On May 31, 2013, Masai Ujiri signed a 5-year, $15 million deal to become executive vice president and general manager of the Toronto Raptors, replacing Bryan Colangelo.
2013: Named NBA Executive of the Year
In 2013, Masai Ujiri was named the NBA Executive of the Year after building a Nuggets’ roster that won 57 games, the most in Denver's NBA history. He is the only non-American ever to win the award.
April 19, 2014: Controversial Outburst at Fan Rally
On April 19, 2014, at a fan rally prior to Game 1 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, Masai Ujiri shouted, "Fuck Brooklyn!" He apologized during halftime of Game 1, and the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver fined Ujiri $25,000.
April 18, 2015: Controversial Outburst at Fan Rally Before Playoff Series
On April 18, 2015, at a fan rally before the playoff series between the Washington Wizards and the Raptors, Masai Ujiri shouted to the crowd, "We don't give a s--t about 'it!'" in response to comments from Wizards guard Paul Pierce. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver fined Ujiri $35,000 and the Raptors organization another $25,000.
2016: Giants of Africa documentary film
In 2016, Hubert Davis created a documentary film called Giants of Africa on Ujiri and Basketball Without Borders.
2016: Contract Extended to Act as President
In 2016, Masai Ujiri's contract was extended to act as the team's president of the Toronto Raptors, and the team reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
2016: Relinquished GM title and became President of Basketball Operations
In the summer of 2016, Masai Ujiri relinquished his title as general manager to Jeff Weltman and accepted the position of president of basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors.
2017: Consecutive second-round eliminations
In 2017, Masai Ujiri oversaw consecutive second-round eliminations of the Raptors in the playoffs, all three playoff defeats at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James
2017: Weltman Left and Bobby Webster Named General Manager
In 2017, after Jeff Weltman left the organization to join the Orlando Magic, Bobby Webster was named as the Toronto Raptors' new general manager.
November 28, 2018: Received President's Peace Medal
On November 28, 2018, Masai Ujiri received the first-ever President's Peace Medal presented by the YMCA of Greater Toronto during Peace Week.
2018: Fired Dwane Casey and Traded DeRozan for Leonard and Green
In 2018, Masai Ujiri fired head coach Dwane Casey and traded DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. The DeRozan-for-Leonard trade was initially controversial.
2018: Regular Season Record in the Eastern Conference
In 2018, under Masai Ujiri, the Toronto Raptors finished the regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
June 13, 2019: Altercation at NBA Finals
On June 13, 2019, after the Toronto Raptors clinched a 4–2 series win over the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals, Masai Ujiri was allegedly involved in an altercation with an Alameda County Sheriff deputy at Oracle Arena regarding credentials for access to the floor.
October 21, 2019: District Attorney Declines to Take Further Action
On October 21, 2019, following a private meeting with Masai Ujiri, his attorneys, and Assistant District Attorney Terry Wiley, Assistant District Attorney Teresa Drenick announced that the District Attorney's office would not take further action in connection with the incident.
December 2019: Launched "That's Humanity" Philanthropic Platform
In December 2019, Masai Ujiri launched a new philanthropic platform called "That's Humanity" that debuted with a personal manifesto and video titled “What does humanity mean to you?”
2019: Raptors Win First NBA Championship
In 2019, as president, Masai Ujiri helped the Toronto Raptors win their first NBA championship.
February 2020: Accompanied Prime Minister Trudeau on African Visit
In February 2020, Masai Ujiri accompanied Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on an official visit to various African nations, including Ethiopia and Senegal. Ujiri appeared on behalf of sport charity Right To Play at an event in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Trudeau and Ujiri made a surprise visit to thank the Canadian troops in Kuwait.
August 2020: Body Camera Footage Released
In August 2020, Deputy Alan Strickland's body camera footage was released, showing Masai Ujiri reaching for his game credentials before the deputy shoved him twice in the chest, revealing that the deputy initiated the physical contact.
October 6, 2020: Motion to Dismiss Counterclaim Filed
On October 6, 2020, Strickland's lawyers filed a motion to dismiss a counterclaim to a lawsuit from Masai Ujiri, with a Zoom hearing scheduled for November 17.
February 10, 2021: Lawsuits Dropped
On February 10, 2021, Masai Ujiri dropped his countersuit against Alameda County sheriff's deputy Alan Strickland, and the sheriff's deputy dropped his lawsuit against Ujiri.
2021: Became a Naturalized Canadian Citizen
In 2021, Masai Ujiri became a naturalized Canadian citizen.
2023: Named Officer of the Order of Canada
In 2023, Masai Ujiri was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
June 27, 2025: Ujiri and Raptors Part Ways
On June 27, 2025, Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors agreed to part ways, ending his 12-year run with the organization.
2025: Parted ways with the Raptors
In 2025, Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors agreed to part ways.
March 31, 2026: Joins Ownership Group of Toronto Tempo
On March 31, 2026, Masai Ujiri joined the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the Women's National Basketball Association expansion franchise.
2026: Joined Ownership of Toronto Tempo WNBA Expansion Team
In 2026, Masai Ujiri joined the ownership group of the WNBA expansion team, the Toronto Tempo.
Mentioned in this timeline
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