Six days after Masai Ujiri and the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Raptors parted ways, the former president and vice-chair of the organization has made his first public appearance — and is already on the lookout for a new gig.
“Do you have a job for me?†Ujiri joked with host Robin Roberts in an interview Thursday on . “(Right) now, it’s day to day with the family … Honestly, it’s time to really look at it from the top, and I know there are great things coming.â€
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Raptors, moved on from Ujiri last week after he led the team for 12 years and won a championship in 2019. Keith Pelley, CEO of MLSE, said Uriji’s future had been in discussion for months and “the timing was right to make a change.â€
“It’s been 12 incredible years, incredible years, with the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Raptors and I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunity,†Ujiri said Thursday. “Fans, my family, colleagues, coaches, players, the owners, everybody, they’ve been incredible to me and ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, I love you, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½.â€
“It’s a great journey in my life and it’s time. Great things come to an end.â€
Ujiri joined the program to talk about Giants of Africa, the charity he co-founded and leads. Roberts will join Ujiri in Rwanda later this month for the charity’s festival, which will welcome 320 young athletes from 20 African nations for a week of community, culture, basketball, education and entertainment.
Ujiri grew up in northern Nigeria.
“Here I am. I find myself on Good Morning America,†he said. “I have an obligation to transfer this to youth on the continent, (to) give them an opportunity to grow and to become.â€
Mark Colley is a ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½-based general assignment reporter for
the Star. Reach him via email: mcolley@thestar.ca
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