Masai Ujiri, Raptors fined $60K for expletive
GM penalized for comments made to crowd before Saturday's playoff game
Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri was fined $35,000 US and the team docked $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for his expletive Saturday talking about Washington forward Paul Pierce when addressing fans before the Raptors' playoff opener.
"People want me to say something about Paul Pierce but, we don't give a s--- about 'it'," Ujiri told a cheering crowd outside the Air Canada Centre in an area dubbed Jurassic Park.
Ujiri was referring to the Wizards' veteran who told ESPN he wasn't worried about the Raptors because "I don't feel they have the 'it' that makes you worried."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attended the Raptors' overtime loss in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series. Last year, Ujiri was fined $25,000 by the NBA for ending a speech with an expletive before the team's post-season opener against the Brooklyn Nets.
"I have the deepest respect for Commissioner Silver and the NBA, and while showing passion for our team and fans I will choose my words more carefully in the future so as not to indicate otherwise," said Ujiri in a statement released by the Raptors.
"I apologize and have acknowledged the fine with the Commissioner. I consider the matter closed and our sole focus is on the playoffs."