On June 13, 2019 the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship. Masai Ujiri is the Toronto Raptors team president and was shoved by Deputy Alan Strickland of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. Ujiri did nothing wrong and was just on his way to court side to celebrate with his team. Oddly enough Strickland tried to cite Ujiri as the main aggressor, but our video footage refutes that claim.
A physical altercation occurred right after the big game.
The basketball game was being played in Oakland, California at Oracle Arena. The Toronto Raptors had just beat the Golden State Warriors to win the 2019 NBA Finals Championship. Ujiri was making his way through the crowd to celebrate and congratulate the newly crowned NBA champions. Ujiri has part of his credential to enter the basketball court pulled out of his suit jacket.
That is when video shows Strickland pushing Ujiri violently and then saying,
“back the fuck up man, who the fuck you pushing?!”
Ujiri then says I am the president of the Raptors. Strickland pushes Ujiri again and says,
“back the fuck up!”
Ujiri says, “why did you push me?” In self defense mode, Ujiri pushes Strickland back prompting bystanders to separate the two men. Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry then brings Ujiri on to the court and hugs him.Strickland claims the altercation left him with multiple injuries, but the video refutes that too.
Strickland filed a federal lawsuit against Ujiri, the Raptors, and the NBA back in February 2020 claiming he suffered serious injuries to his teeth, head, jaw and chin.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office tried to charge Ujiri with battery on a law enforcement officer but the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against Ujiri.
The Toronto Raptors released a statement saying:
“The new video evidence proves Ujiri was not an aggressor, but instead was the recipient of two very violent, unwarranted actions.”
