Video Evidence Surfaces In Support Of Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri

Toronto Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri filed a countersuit Tuesday against a deputy with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, who appeared to be the aggressor in an altercation with Ujiri after Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.

Recently released body-camera video from the deputy, Alan Strickland, shows him grabbing Ujiri and pushing Ujiri, who attempts to celebrate on the court at Oracle Arena after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors for their first title. The footage, which was released by Ujiri's legal team, shows Ujiri attempting to show his credentials. Strickland is heard yelling at Ujiri to “back the f--- up” and shoves him again before Ujiri delivered a push of his own in retaliation.

Ujiri's legal team said Strickland was “undeniably the initial aggressor."

Strickland on Feb. 7 sued Ujiri, filing a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The sheriff’s deputy and his wife, Kelly Strickland, have been seeking a jury trial to resolve the matter and general damages in excess of the minimum jurisdictional amount of $75,000, as well as medical and incidental expenses.

Strickland claimed Ujiri assaulted him and that Ujiri repeatedly ignored the deputy’s orders to stop attempting to get on the court because he had no visible credentials.

“Masai Ujiri then attacked Plaintiff Alan Strickland and hit him in the face and chest with both fists,” the lawsuit reads.

Strickland said in the lawsuit that the force of the contact from Ujiri sent him “backwards several feet.” Strickland said that he “suffered, and will continue to suffer, physical, mental, emotional, and economic injuries, including, but not limited to, lost wages, lost opportunity for financial gain, future earning capacity, and past and future medical care and expenses.”

Strickland’s attorney said his client suffered a concussion and he had been on medical leave since the incident.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office declined to press charges against Ujiri after an investigation. Ujiri maintained his innocence from the start.

“To me it’s incredible that things play out like that,” Ujiri told the Canadian Press in February while traveling in Dakar, Senegal. “I think something incredible was taken away from me and I will never forget it. It is one of the things that drives me to win another championship because I want to be able to celebrate a championship the right way. This thing will be settled. The truth will come out.”