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MLSE CEO explains why Toronto Raptors parted ways with Masai Ujiri and what's next for the franchise

Adam Laskaris
Adam Laskaris
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Jun 27 2025, 7:31 pm
MLSE CEO explains why Toronto Raptors parted ways with Masai Ujiri and what's next for the franchise
Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images

MLSE CEO Keith Pelley is certainly putting his stamp on the Toronto Raptors.

On Friday, less than 12 hours after the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Raptors parted ways with longtime executive and team president Masai Ujiri after 12 years with the franchise.

Ujiri, the architect of the franchise’s 2019 NBA championship and one of the most recognizable faces in all of Canadian sport, is no longer with the franchise, with a year remaining on his deal.

Back in October 2021, a long feature from the Toronto Star’s Christine Dobby and Doug Smith reported that Ujiri and MLSE board member and chairman of Rogers Communications Ed Rogers weren’t exactly on the best of terms.

Pelley met the media on Friday afternoon to explain the rationale behind the move.

Pelley touted that Ujiri’s departure was “my decision supported by the board,” publicly rebuffing claims that the decision was made by Rogers.

He also added that he and Ujiri had been speaking about the organization’s future for more than a month, though he did not share when it was that he broke the news to Ujiri. According to Pelley, Ujiri requested to stick around for the draft process, and Pelley obliged without worry that he would act in a way that wouldn’t be in the best interest of the organization even if his departure was a possibility.

Ujiri is the third major Toronto sports president to depart their role under Pelley, who started with the organization in April 2024.

Last month, former Leafs Brendan Shanahan saw his contract go unrenewed, having started with the organization in 2014, and Bill Manning left his roles with Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts in July 2024, having started with the organization in 2015.

“I don’t believe in a legacy for myself,” Pelley said in response to a question asked by Offside. “I believe legacies belong to the likes of Winston Churchill and Shakespeare… not the CEO of MLSE. My role is to do the best I possibly can and to contend for championships on an annual basis.”

“I’m committed to building the right culture and the right competitive players to contend and to win championships, and that’s the way that I’ll be judged… you have to be prepared to make some tough decisions you have to be prepared to make changes. Change is hard. It really is hard. And this decision today is hard. It’s a tough decision, but I think it’s the right decision for the Raptors at this time,” Pelley added.

Pelley also says the organization plans to hire a new president, with Raptors general manager Bobby Webster expected to be one of the candidates.

“With the evolution of where the Raptors are in the middle of a rebuild, we felt we needed to bring in a president. As a result, we will start that search immediately,” Pelley said. “Obviously, whoever comes into that position has massive shoes to fill. It will need to be a prominent, successful business leader.”

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