Knicks and Raptors Voluntarily Dismiss 2023 Lawsuit Agreement
The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors have mutually decided to voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit concerning the alleged theft of confidential files. This decision was confirmed in a court filing on October 6, 2023, and was reported by El-Balad.
Background of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit originated in August 2023, when the Knicks sought over $10 million in damages. They claimed that the Raptors illegally recruited Ikechukwu Azotam, a former employee who worked for the Knicks from 2020 to 2023. According to the Knicks, Azotam was instructed to provide sensitive internal information to the Raptors during the summer of 2023.
Details of the Allegations
- The Knicks accused Azotam of sending thousands of confidential files to the Raptors.
- Files included play frequency reports and a preparation book for the 2022-23 season.
- The Knicks claimed these actions were intended to give the Raptors an unfair competitive edge.
In addition to Azotam, the lawsuit named several Raptors staff members, including head coach Darko Rajaković and player development coach Noah Lewis, among others.
Response from the Raptors
The Raptors refuted the allegations, describing them as “baseless” and a form of “public relations stunt.” They asserted that the data in question consisted mostly of publicly available information, easily accessible by all NBA teams.
Resolution of the Case
Throughout the proceedings, the Raptors called for intervention from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to resolve the dispute. Ultimately, the case was dismissed with prejudice, signifying that it cannot be brought back to court in the future.
This resolution allows both teams to refocus on their respective futures, putting the contentious issue behind them.
