Toronto Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has guaranteed more championships.
This was what Ujiri told TSN Raptors beat reporter Josh Lewenberg in the aftermath of Toronto's first NBA championship on June 13.
Masai: "I said we will win in Toronto and we won in Toronto and we'll win some more, guaranteed."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) June 14, 2019
The Canadian franchise won its first title in its 25-year history by beating the Golden State Warriors, 114-110, in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals on Thursday. The Raptors prevailed in six games. 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points for Toronto. Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry each scored 26 points for the Raptors.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair for the most part – there were 14 lead changes in the game's first 24 minutes. Backup point guard Fred VanVleet put the Raptors up to stay when he nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 3:44 left in the game.
A year ago, Toronto suffered a third straight playoff ouster at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. It fired head coach Dwane Casey at the end of the 2017-18 NBA season. Shortly afterward, the Raptors tapped Casey's assistant, Nick Nurse (who had no previous head coaching experience in the NBA), to become head coach. Of course, we can never forget the controversial trade for Kawhi Leonard.
Raptors GM Masai Ujiri watches from the tunnel as the team he created for Toronto dethrones the Warriors as NBA champions. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/cLIl2wu3Hy
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) June 14, 2019
Several months later, the Raptors are NBA champions. The first order of business is making sure Leonard stays in Toronto. Will he? Only he knows for sure.
For now, Masai Ujiri has made a guarantee reminiscent of Pat Riley's with the Los Angeles Lakers: The Toronto Raptors will win more championships. It should be an exciting journey for Ujiri and Co.
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