Former president of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, has become part of the ownership group for the Toronto Tempo, the new WNBA team set to begin its inaugural season this year.
“The growth of women’s sports is remarkable. You can see it in the WNBA, soccer, and hockey, and introducing a brand like this to a city I know well, a beautiful city filled with passion, is something I truly believe in — I think this will resonate strongly,” Ujiri stated to ESPN. “Being part of ownership presents a unique opportunity for my family and me.”
Ujiri is joining the ownership group led by Larry Tanenbaum, with whom he celebrated Toronto’s sole NBA championship in 2019. Since his departure from the Raptors, Ujiri, who was raised in Nigeria, has concentrated on his initiatives with Giants of Africa, the United Nations, and the Zaria Group, which is developing sports and entertainment infrastructure across Africa.
“It has been incredibly busy,” Ujiri remarked about his year away from the NBA, which he spent primarily in Florida with his family. “I had the chance to focus on my family. I transitioned from having a driver for 12 years, as I was always on the phone, to now being an Uber driver for my kids.
“They are involved in sports, and I take them to various practices. Additionally, I have been working on facilities and infrastructure on the continent.
“We recently completed the sports city [in Rwanda], and I am currently engaged with the U.N. in the Sahel [region of north-central Africa]. We are set to open in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Mauritania in a few weeks. We committed to constructing the sports complexes, and they are truly impressive.”
Nevertheless, Ujiri has remained connected to the NBA community, frequently communicating with former Raptors players, coaches, executives, and several owners, with an interest in returning to the league if the right opportunity arises.
“I have been gaining more insights into our game, the NBA, examining trends and what we might be lacking by observing other leagues,” he explained. “I dedicate a significant amount of my time to this because one of my primary objectives is to secure another championship. I aim to win with the Tempo and also seek another NBA championship, as I was unable to celebrate and enjoy the moment due to that police incident I experienced.”
Ujiri was referencing an event where a sheriff’s deputy from the San Francisco area prevented him from entering the court to celebrate the Raptors’ victory over the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena, citing a lack of proper credentials, which resulted in a confrontation partially captured on video. The deputy filed a lawsuit against Ujiri, claiming assault. Ujiri countersued, asserting that the video evidence indicated the deputy was “undeniably the initial aggressor” and that he would not have faced such disrespect if he were not Black.
Ultimately, both parties withdrew their lawsuits, but Ujiri noted that the incident left a bitter impression that tainted the Raptors’ championship for him and motivates him to pursue another title with a different team in the future.
“There is a drive within me because of what transpired,” he stated. “I want to win again so I can truly enjoy it.”
With the Tempo, he will collaborate with Tanenbaum and work alongside two executives he has known for many years, team president Teresa Resch and general manager Monica Wright Rogers.
“Masai has been a mentor to me since 2008 when I participated in one of his camps in Africa,” Resch told ESPN. “We frequently connect regarding professional and personal development. Since his arrival as an owner, it has reached another level. He has many ambitious ideas and understands what it takes to assemble a team.”
Ujiri is also initiating Tempo Rising, a global coaching mentorship program in partnership with the Tempo. Tempo Rising aims to support emerging women-identifying and non-binary coaches at an introductory level by providing exclusive access to mentorship, professional development, and practical coaching experiences with Ujiri, Wright Rogers, and Tempo coach Sandy Brondello.
