#Nick Nurse: New video tells whole story of Masai Ujiri’s NBA Finals incident

Toronto is facing the Nets on the court, while Raptors president Masai Ujiri has his own court battle ongoing.

Ujiri filed a countersuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Oakland, in response to having been sued by a Bay Area law enforcement officer after an altercation at last June’s NBA Finals. The officer had accused Ujiri of being the aggressor, but video released in Ujiri’s countersuit appears to exonerate him in the incident.

“To me it’s pretty self-explanatory – and disappointing. I think it probably ruins a night of tremendous celebration for Masai with the actions of the officer, really, right?” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said before Wednesday’s Game 2. “I’m sure he still felt pretty good about the win, but it had to dampen that. I guess it’s been a long time, over a year, right? I guess it’s good to get some closure on that.”

Alameda County sheriff’s deputy Alan Strickland — who is white — had sued Ujiri after a scuffle at the tail end of Toronto winning the championship last year at Oracle Arena. Ujiri, the Raptors, Raptors owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and the NBA are all listed as defendants.

But video released in the countersuit showed Ujiri — who is black — as a non-aggressor, having his suit jacket grabbed by Strickland, being pushed and then told to “back the f—k up.” He tried to show his credentials, before being shoved yet again.

In a February lawsuit, Strickland accused Ujiri of assaulting him, claiming he had “suffered injury to his body, health, strength, activity and person, all of which have caused and continue to cause Plaintiff great mental, emotional, psychological, physical, and nervous pain and suffering.” And Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern claimed Ujiri hit Strickland’s jaw and shoulder, and called for the exec to be charged with battery of a police officer.

The team released a statement Tuesday saying the video proved the title-winning executive wasn’t the aggressor.

“Well I think that on this particular case – well not just this particular case, but in many instances — people make accusations, assumptions, throw the guilty thing at lots of people,” said Nurse. “I think in the world especially of social media there’s a lot of just flat-out unkind behavior towards people when they don’t know the truth, right? I find it all very disheartening, and disappointing to be honest.”

The killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor has brought racial injustice into the forefront, and fed the Black Lives Matter movement. The Raptors said in a statement that Ujiri had been the victim of violence and then been hit with a baseless lawsuit afterwards.

“We are mindful this remains before the courts, but we have always maintained that the claims made against Masai are baseless and entirely without merit,” the Raptors said in a statement. “We believe this video evidence shows exactly that – Masai was not an aggressor, but instead was the recipient of two very violent, unwarranted actions.

“The events of that evening cast a pall over what should have been a night of celebration, and the year since. While Masai has the full backing of Raptors and MLSE as he fights this injustice, we are aware that not all people have similar support and resources. This is a spurious legal action that MLSE, the NBA, and especially Masai should not be facing.”