Masai Ujiri, the executive architect behind the Toronto Raptors’ meteoric rise to NBA champions in 2019, is stepping down from his role as Vice-Chairman and President of the franchise after 12 years, ending one of the most consequential front-office tenures in modern basketball.
The announcement came Friday morning, less than 24 hours after the 2025 NBA Draft—a timing that underscored how deep the fractures had grown between Ujiri and the team’s ownership group, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). For a team already adrift in recent years, Ujiri’s exit raises urgent questions about leadership, direction, and identity.
The Raptors have failed to make the playoffs for three straight seasons and finished 2024–25 with a 30–52 record—among the worst in the Eastern Conference. With their roster in transition and their vision in flux, MLSE appears ready to reboot from the top down.
According to ESPN, Ujiri’s contract, signed in 2021, had one year remaining. He and MLSE reached what insiders called a “non-combative parting” amid organizational realignment.
Sportsnet reports that MLSE made the decision internally last week, informing Ujiri prior to the draft that he would not be offered an extension.
Toronto Raptors decline after Masai Ujiri’s front-office success
Masai Ujiri, 54, joined the Raptors in 2013 and quickly transformed the team’s culture, brand, and basketball identity. His front-office vision was defined by bold risks and global ambition. He famously traded franchise icon DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard in 2018—a move that culminated in the Raptors’ first-ever NBA championship in 2019.
But that golden era has dimmed. In recent years, the departures of Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam left the Raptors rebuilding on the fly. Ujiri hoped to construct a new identity around rising star Scottie Barnes and 2024 acquisition Brandon Ingram, but results have remained underwhelming.
“The team lacked cohesion, direction, and veteran leadership,” according to PFSN, calling the 2024–25 campaign one of the “least inspiring in a decade.”
SB Nation (RaptorsHQ) added that internal disagreements over short-term goals versus long-term vision created a growing rift between Ujiri and MLSE’s shifting leadership team. MLSE’s Chairman Larry Tanenbaum is reportedly stepping away, removing one of Ujiri’s key backers.
Masai Ujiri becomes NBA’s most sought-after front-office leader
With his exit, Ujiri becomes arguably the most sought-after executive in basketball. His name has already been linked to front-office openings with the New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, and Atlanta Hawks. The Knicks previously attempted to hire him in 2019, offering compensation and an ownership stake—something that may again become a bargaining chip.
“He instantly becomes the top candidate in any market,” noted SI’s NBA desk. “His record, global reach, and championship pedigree are unmatched.”
For The Win outlined several possible destinations, including teams with struggling rosters and new ownership—franchises likely to offer executive control and generous long-term contracts, according to For The Win.
Toronto Raptors face uncertain future after Masai Ujiri’s exit
With Masai Ujiri stepping down, Toronto’s basketball operations are now expected to be overseen in large part by General Manager Bobby Webster. While MLSE has yet to formally name a successor, league sources indicate that Webster is positioned to take on expanded executive duties in the short term. The franchise, once defined by top-down cohesion under Ujiri’s leadership, must now navigate a delicate phase of transition.
Toronto enters this period amid broader questions about strategic direction. While several key veterans have been traded or departed via free agency, the current roster—built around Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram—offers enough flexibility to permit either a full rebuild or a shorter-term retool. The front office faces pressure to remain competitive in the short term while laying foundations for sustainable success, especially given the team’s declining on-court results and waning postseason relevance.
The timing of Ujiri’s departure is especially precarious given the Raptors’ unique position within the NBA. As the league’s sole franchise outside the United States, Toronto has relied on consistent executive vision to sustain its market presence. Ujiri’s role was pivotal in projecting a cosmopolitan brand that resonated with both international prospects and local fans. His departure leaves a vacuum not just in leadership, but in symbolic value—raising questions about how the Raptors will define themselves in a league increasingly shaped by global narratives.
Masai Ujiri’s Raptors legacy extends far beyond the scoreboard
Beyond his role in constructing a championship roster, Masai Ujiri cultivated a legacy that extended far beyond wins and losses. As the founder of the Giants of Africa initiative, Ujiri leveraged basketball as a medium for social impact, investing in youth development programs and infrastructure across the African continent. His advocacy work made him one of the NBA’s most influential figures on the global stage.
During periods of social upheaval in North America—most notably following the killing of George Floyd in 2020—Ujiri emerged as a leading voice within the league, championing issues of racial justice, representation, and institutional reform. Internally, he helped diversify the Raptors’ leadership ranks, fostering a multicultural front office that became a model across the league.
His broader vision also transformed the way teams approach international talent development. Under his leadership, Toronto expanded its scouting networks in Africa, Europe, and South America—an approach that has since been adopted by several other NBA franchises.
Though the circumstances of his departure are laden with institutional uncertainty, Ujiri exits the franchise as one of its most important architects. His tenure reshaped the Raptors’ identity—from a regional outlier into a global brand—cementing his influence not just in Toronto’s basketball history, but in the broader evolution of the modern NBA.
