Masai Ujiri out as Raptors President: Where is he going next? Other NBA teams in play?

Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors have parted ways. The 54-year-old served as the vice chairman and president of basketball operations since 2016.

Published on: Jun 27, 2025, 19:19:36 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors have parted ways. The 54-year-old, who had served as the vice chairman and president of basketball operations since 2016, was entering the final year of his current contract. However, ESPN cited sources to report that Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and Ujiri came to a decision about him not continuing with the NBA franchise.

Masai Ujiri and Toronto Raptors have parted ways (File photo/AP)

This comes a day after the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft. With Ujiri's contract set to expire in 2026, the timing of his exit has sparked speculation about his next move. While nothing is official as of now, we are exploring his potential next stops (if he continues to stay in the NBA).

Where is Masai Ujiri going next?

As of Friday, there is no confirmed destination has been announced for Ujiri. His departure, described as a mutual decision with MLSE, leaves him free to explore opportunities across the NBA and beyond. The former Raptors president might soon be approached by several teams, given his impressive CV.

Atlanta Hawks: In May 2025, NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Hawks’ interest in Ujiri for their vacant president of basketball operations role, following a front-office overhaul that saw Landry Fields replaced by Onsi Saleh as GM.

Washington Wizards: In 2021, the Wizards reportedly offered Ujiri up to $10 million annually with ownership equity, though he stayed with Toronto.

New York Knicks: The Knicks pursued Ujiri post-2019 championship, leveraging his prior stint as their assistant GM (2008-2010). Their current stability under Leon Rose makes such a move less likely.

Who is Masai Ujiri?

Masai Ujiri was born in Zaria, Nigeria, and is a renowned NBA executive who served as the Toronto Raptors’ Vice Chairman and President. He led the Raptors to their 2019 NBA championship, earning the 2013 NBA Executive of the Year award.

Ujiri, who also worked with the Denver Nuggets, founded Giants of Africa, promoting basketball and youth empowerment across Africa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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