Despite being a native of Bournemouth, England and of Nigerian and Kenyan descent, Toronto Raptors President and Vice-Chairman Masai Ujiri received one of Canada’s highest honours on Friday. According to the Canadian Press, it was announced that the 52-year-old executive was one of 22 Canadians to receive the Officer of the Order of Canada, and one of 85 Canadians to be recognized by the Order of Canada.
Ujiri is honoured because of his brilliant ability to put an elite basketball team together for the 2018-19 National Basketball Association regular season, and his outstanding contributions off the court as an elite humanitarian.
The Raptors have had Ujiri in their organization since May 31, 2013 when he signed a five-year contract to join Toronto from the Denver Nuggets. The most significant transaction Ujiri made while with the Raptors was acquiring Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster trade on July 18, 2018. Even though Leonard was only with the Raptors for one season before he signed a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, he had a huge impact while playing in Canada. Leonard led the Raptors to their only NBA Finals championship in franchise history, and in the process was named the most valuable player of the NBA Finals for a second time. Leonard previously was NBA Finals MVP when his San Antonio Spurs won the 2014 NBA Finals. In 2020, we ranked Leonard as the fourth best NBA Player of the 2010s decade.
Ujiri was also recognized for his philanthropy. He has travelled with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to official visits to Kuwait, Senegal and Ethiopia. Ujiri has also been active with many global charities including Basketball Without Borders, the Giants of Africa Basketball Camp, and Right to Play.
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