Masai Ujiri is a former Nigerian-Canadian professional basketball player and executive. Ujiri is the president of basketball operations for the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors (NBA). He formerly worked as the Denver Nuggets’ general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations when he led the team to the playoffs. In 2013, he was voted NBA Executive of the Year. He rejoined the Raptors as general manager, rising to the position of president of basketball operations. Raptors won their first NBA title under Ujiri in 2019. Before retiring, Ujiri had a modest professional playing career.
Quick Facts
| Celebrated Name | Masai Ujiri |
|---|---|
| Age | 53 Years |
| Nick Name | Masai |
| Birth Name | Masai Ujiri |
| Birth Date | 1970-07-07 |
| Gender | Male |
| Profession | Basketball Executive |
| Place Of Birth | Bournemouth |
| Birth Nation | United Kingdom |
| Nationality | Nigerian, Canadian |
| Famous For | Named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2013 |
| Father | Michael Ujiri |
| Mother | Paula Grace |
| Home Town | Zaria, Nigeria |
| Ethnicity | African |
| Religion | Christianity |
| High School | Nathan Hale High School |
| College / University | Bismarck State College, Montana State University Billings |
| Education | College Dropout |
| First Club | Solent Stars |
| Awards | NBA Executive of the Year in 2013 |
| Title Won | NBA championship in 2019 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Ramatu Ujiri |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Toronto, Canada |
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft and 5 in) |
| Weight | Balanced |
| Body Type | Average |
| Eye Color | Dark Bown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Hair Style | Short Trimmed |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Source of Wealth | Salary from his contract as a basketball executive |
| Salary | Around $10 million |
| Net Worth | $20 million |
Masai Ujiri Biography
Masai Ujiri was born on July 7, 1970. His birthplace is in the United Kingdom, in the town of Bournemouth. He was born in Nigeria to Nigerian parents, Michael Ujiri and Paula Grace. He is of Nigerian-Canadian origin. Masai was barely two years old when his family relocated to Nigeria. He grew up in Zaria, Nigeria, his hometown. He is of African descent and follows the Christian faith.
Ujiri grew up playing association football. Around the age of 13, he developed an interest in basketball. He eventually decided to pursue a career in basketball. He emigrated from Nigeria to the United States and attended Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Washington. There, he stayed with a Nigerian family. After high school, he attended Bismarck State College in North Dakota and played basketball for two years. He attended Montana State University Billings before transferring. Masai did, however, leave after only one semester. He finally left Montana to pursue a professional basketball career in England, where he was born.
Masai Ujiri Height, Weight
Masai Ujiri stands at a height of 1.96 m, i.e., 6 feet and 5 inches tall. He has a balanced body weight. He has an average body build. His eye color is dark brown, and his hair color is black. He usually maintains his hair short-trimmed. His sexual orientation is straight.
Career
- Masai Ujiri spent his entire professional career in Europe. Before his college experience, he was a member of the Solent Stars, a fourth-tier squad that won the title with a 20-2 record.
- He retired from professional football in 2002. He went on to work as a youth coach in Nigeria.
- He was eventually elected NBA Executive of the Year in 2013.
- In 2013, he left the Nuggets to become the Raptors’ executive vice president and general manager.
- In May 2013, he agreed to a five-year, $15 million contract with the Raptors.
- Ujiri was fined $25,000 for yelling, “F*ck Brooklyn!”
- Dwane Casey, Ujiri’s head coach, was sacked shortly after the team’s second-round loss to the Cavs in 2018.
- Ujiri acquired Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Marc Gasol and guided the Raptors to win the franchise’s first NBA title, the 2019 NBA Championship.
- Despite the historic win, Ujiri’s fight with an Alameda Couty Sherriff deputy during the celebration led to multiple lawsuits against each other.
- Ujiri signed a new deal with the Raptors in August 2021.
Masai Ujiri Wife, Marriage
Masai Ujiri is a married guy. He is married to fashion model Ramatu Ujiri. They started dating in 2007 and got married a few years later. The couple shares two children. He lives with his family in Toronto, Canada.
Masai Ujiri Net Worth
Masai Ujiri had a modest playing career and never played in the NBA. However, he later became one of the most successful NBA executives. Ujiri led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA titles in 2019. He got a 5-year contract worth $15 million with the Raptors in 2013. He later signed a contract extension with the Raptors in 2016. His compensation was believed to be in the range of $6 million. After leading the Raptors to NBA championships in 2019, he became one of the successful executives in the NBA. It was reported in August 2021 that he had signed a new contract deal with the Raptors. His new contract would reportedly pay him $10 million in compensation yearly. At present, his net worth is estimated at over $20 million as of January 2024.
Trivia
- His parents were international scholars in England.
- Growing up, he adored Hakeem Olajuwon, an NBA player who was also Nigerian.
- His father is a hospital administrator and nursing educator.
- His mother is a doctor.
