(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

After leading the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA Championship in June, Masai Ujiri brought the trophy back to Nigeria to celebrate with his family. Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors President, became the first African in a president or general manager role to lead a team in one of the four major American professional sports leagues to a championship. Ujiri was always viewed as one of the best President/GMs in the NBA and this championship validated that. HBO Real Sports did a great feature on Ujiri’s trip back to Africa this summer and also discussed his career journey. For the past sixteen years, Ujiri hosted a basketball camp in Africa called Giants of Africa. The camp teaches the campers fundamental basketball skills on the court but also life skills that will help excel off the court. Check out the full segment.

Ujiri’s story of dedication is a great example that hard work does leads to success. Masai Ujiri is a great example to future Nigerians and Africans as a whole that dream to be professional athletes, that there is an opportunity to excel on the business/management side of sports.