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Raptors president Masai Ujiri on lawsuit: ‘It’s malicious’

Raptors president Masai Ujiri

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: General Manager of the Toronto Raptors Masai Ujiri is interviewed after his teams victory over the Golden State Warriors to win Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Masai Ujiri is being sued by a police officer who claims the Raptors president punched him while trying to reach the court to celebrate Toronto’s championship last June in Oakland.

Ujiri, via The Canadian Press:

“It’s malicious in a way,” Ujiri said Wednesday in Dakar, Senegal. “To me it’s incredible that things play out like that. 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. The truth will come out of this.

“It’s incredible that this malicious kind of claim, if I’ve been dismissed with the criminal case, then I really don’t know what this means for me. There is no case there and I look forward to whatever is coming.”

Ujiri wasn’t charged. But there is generally a lower standard of proof in civil cases (preponderance of the evidence) than criminal cases (beyond a reasonable doubt). So, Alan Strickland will have an opportunity to tell his side of the story.