Masai Ujiri Quotes

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Masai Ujiri

Profession : Businessman

Birth : July 7, 1970

It doesn't all have to be about giving money. Sometimes it's a smile that changes the life of one little kid.

Masai Ujiri

As leaders, I think we have to give people in many places a chance to have success, not continue to put those people down.

Masai Ujiri

God doesn't put anyone someplace permanently. I am a living testimony to that.

Masai Ujiri

I value my staff and I believe in hiring people who are smarter than myself.

Masai Ujiri

We have to inspire people and give them a sense of hope. We need to bring people along, not ridicule and tear them down.

Masai Ujiri

I memorized every line in Michael Jordan's 'Come Fly with Me.'

Masai Ujiri

It's a great thing that the NBA has done in Africa to develop the game.

Masai Ujiri

We have something very special happening in Toronto and Drake is a big part of that.

Masai Ujiri

One of Giants of Africa's fundamental mottos is - Dream Big. We believe that basketball can be used as a tool to educate and develop youth around the world to accomplish their dreams.

Masai Ujiri

As an NBA executive, I'm always looking for untapped potential. As a proud native of Nigeria, I believe that Africa is one of the world's greatest resources in that area.

Masai Ujiri

Kids in Africa start kicking a ball when they are six or seven years old, if not younger. It's like baseball, basketball and football in America. If you're talented, people will find you. That's what happened with soccer. The number of academies has grown rapidly, and people are really into it.

Masai Ujiri

Most kids in Africa don't start playing basketball until they are 13 or 14 years old. This puts them at a disadvantage because they lack the instincts and must work harder to develop the skills and habits formed at an early age.

Masai Ujiri

As you can probably tell, the push to develop talent in Africa is personal. I grew up there. I played there. I know how much talent there is. We have to concentrate on building facilities, establishing successful leagues and finding investors to help young players.

Masai Ujiri

Most young kids can't figure out how to shoot.

Masai Ujiri

The truth is that Africa is like everywhere else. There are poor areas, there are rich areas, there is a middle class. Some of those areas are bigger in one country than another, and some countries have real problems that they're working through. But there's great people, good people and a small percentage of bad people - just like everywhere else.

Masai Ujiri

People hear 'Africa' and they think about charitable commercials, or safari tours and animals. It's our responsibility to help change that perspective.

Masai Ujiri

Manute Bol was one of the guys who taught me to be bold. To be fierce. To speak intelligently, and speak like you belong.

Masai Ujiri

This is my hobby. Reaching out, getting to know other people's cultures, traveling to other people's countries.

Masai Ujiri

Just because someone lives in a hut, that doesn't mean that isn't a good person, that that person can't do better, that person isn't capable of being great. And just because it's a hut - whatever that means - doesn't mean it's not a home.

Masai Ujiri

I've spent a lot of time in the United States and Canada and I am grateful for the opportunities that I've been given by people, and the game of basketball, and the NBA.

Masai Ujiri