Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri tests positive for COVID-19

Nick Metallinos

Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri tests positive for COVID-19 image

Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman and President Masai Ujiri has tested positive for COVID-19.

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Ujiri tested positive following an in-person event on Sunday. In a statement released by the organization, Ujiri said he learned of his positive test following Sunday's Giants of Africa gala, the first in-person event held by the organization since 2019. 

"It was organized in compliance with all current public health guidance – everyone who attended had to show proof of vaccination, and to wear masks when not eating or drinking," the statement said.

"I am now at home, observing the safety protocols by self-isolating for 10 days, monitoring for symptoms and undergoing testing, and I encourage everyone who attended to please do the same. We don’t want to live in fear of this virus, but COVID is a persistent enemy. Together, we’ll defeat it.”

Ujiri is fully vaccinated, and has had his booster shot, he added. The entire Raptors organization is fully vaccinated as well. 

The news comes on the heels of the team canceling practice scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 9 due to the NBA's Health and Safety Protocols. Khem Birch is the last Raptors player to test positive for the virus in October. He missed three games during the preseason. 

Toronto's next home game is against the New York Knicks on Friday. More to come on this story as it develops. 

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Nick Metallinos

Nick Metallinos Photo

Nick has been working exclusively within the NBA world for over a decade. He hosted 46 episodes of Ball or Nothin' - a show screened on ESPN highlighting the social media aspects of the NBA. Nick has covered 3 NBA Finals, 5 NBA All-Star weekends, 8 NBA drafts, 5 Jordan Brand Classics plus dozens of playoff games and hundreds of regular season games. 
Nick spends his spare time trying to decide which sneakers best match his outfit.