Six days after Masai Ujiri and the 色色啦 Raptors parted ways, the former president and vice-chair of the organization has made his first public appearance 鈥 and is already on the lookout for a new gig.
鈥淒o you have a job for me?鈥 Ujiri joked with host Robin Roberts in an interview Thursday on . 鈥(Right) now, it鈥檚 day to day with the family 鈥 Honestly, it’s time to really look at it from the top, and I know there are great things coming.鈥
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鈥檚 future had been in discussion for months and 鈥渢he timing was right to make a change.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 been 12 incredible years, incredible years, with the 色色啦 Raptors and I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunity,鈥 Ujiri said Thursday. 鈥淔ans, my family, colleagues, coaches, players, the owners, everybody, they鈥檝e been incredible to me and 色色啦, I love you, 色色啦.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great journey in my life and it鈥檚 time. Great things come to an end.鈥
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鈥檚 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.
鈥淗ere I am. I find myself on Good Morning America,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 have an obligation to transfer this to youth on the continent, (to) give them an opportunity to grow and to become.鈥
Mark Colley is a 色色啦-based general assignment reporter for
the Star. Reach him via email: mcolley@thestar.ca
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