Knicks and Raptors Settle Lawsuit Over Data Theft: Case Closed

Knicks and Raptors Settle Legal Dispute Over Information Theft

The New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors have reached an agreement to voluntarily dismiss the 2023 lawsuit related to the alleged theft of thousands of confidential files. According to a court document filed on Friday, both franchises have resolved their differences.

“The Knicks and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (owners of the Raptors) have withdrawn their claims and the matter is resolved. The parties are focused on the future,” spokespersons for both teams indicated.

Joint Statement

The lawsuit, filed by the Knicks in August 2023, sought more than $10 million in damages. The Knicks accused the Raptors of recruiting Ikechukwu Azotam, who worked for New York from 2020 to 2023, and of ordering him to provide a large amount of inside information after Toronto began recruiting him in the summer of 2023. The Knicks argued that this effort aimed to give the Raptors a competitive advantage. Specifically, the Knicks alleged that Azotam, who served as a video coordination assistant, and then as video/analysis director/assistant player development, sent the Raptors thousands of confidential files, including play frequency reports, a preparation book for the 2022-23 season, scouting video files, and opposition research. The Knicks alleged that Azotam acted at the request of the Raptors, who, according to them, were trying to “organize, plan, and structure the new coaching and video operations staff,” according to the August 2023 complaint. The Raptors, Azotam, Toronto coach Darko Rajaković, player development coach Noah Lewis, and 10 “unknown” employees were listed as defendants in the lawsuit. In an October 2023 court filing, the Raptors called the Knicks’ accusations “baseless” and a “public relations stunt.” The Raptors argued that the “alleged ‘data theft’ involved little more than publicly available information compiled through public sources easily accessible to all NBA members.” The Raptors repeatedly asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver to intervene and resolve the dispute, and a judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Lower Manhattan agreed. The case was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice, which means it is permanently dismissed.