The Toronto Raptors have extended the contract of general manager Bobby Webster, according to the team’s announcement on Monday. Although the team will not hire a new president, Webster succeeds his former boss, Masai Ujiri, as the Raptors’ top executive. The Raptors parted ways with Ujiri on June 27, a day after the NBA draft, and announced that they had hired CAA Executive Search to help hire a new team president. Webster will remain in the general manager position.
Webster joined the Raptors in 2013 as Ujiri’s first signing, rising from the positions of vice president of strategy and assistant general manager to the position of general manager, and now holds the position of highest authority in the organization. Webster, 40, is entering his 21st season working in the NBA, starting with a position in the league office from 2006 to 2013 and then joining the Raptors. He will begin his ninth season as general manager.By going through this exhaustive process this summer and meeting with external candidates, he played a fundamental role in reaching this decision, as he made it clear that we already have the right person leading the Raptors internally.
Keith Pelley, CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
The Raptors spoke with several candidates for the team’s top executive position, but Webster impressed Pelley and other MLSE officials since the search for Ujiri’s replacement began in late June. Pelley and Webster spent crucial time together during the NBA summer league in Las Vegas, which allowed MLSE to observe Webster’s management style and gave Webster the opportunity to explain his process in the position.
Ujiri joined the Raptors as general manager in 2013, winning the NBA Executive of the Year award that season, before leading Toronto to the franchise’s only NBA title in 2019, the only team outside the United States to achieve the feat. The Raptors had a 30-52 record last season and missed the postseason for the third consecutive year. The Raptors are built around Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and Immanuel Quickley.I am grateful to Keith, the board, and our owners for this opportunity, the opportunity to continue the work I love, for a team, a city, and a country that has become my home. The things that are important to me: a deep love for basketball, thoughtful and empowering leadership, and a competitive spirit, are the pillars of who I am as a leader. That’s what you will see from me every day. This is a new chapter in Raptors basketball, but one thing that will not change is our passion for winning and our goal of bringing another championship to Toronto.
Bobby Webster
