UPDATE: The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors have officially agreed to voluntarily dismiss their ongoing lawsuit involving the alleged theft of confidential files. This significant decision was confirmed through a court filing obtained by ESPN on October 20, 2023.
The lawsuit, originally filed in August 2023, claimed that the Raptors illicitly acquired thousands of sensitive documents from former Knicks employee Ikechukwu Azotam. The Knicks sought more than $10 million in damages, alleging that Azotam, who worked as an assistant video coordinator and later as director of video/analytics/player development assistant, was recruited by Toronto and provided insider information to enhance their competitive edge.
Both teams released a joint statement emphasizing that they have withdrawn their respective claims, stating, “The matter is resolved. The Parties are focused on the future.” This abrupt resolution underscores the ongoing relationships within the highly competitive NBA landscape.
The Knicks accused Azotam of sharing critical data, including play frequency reports and a prep book for the 2022-23 season, as well as video scouting files and opposition research. The organization argued that this information transfer was part of a deliberate strategy by the Raptors to restructure their coaching and video operations.
In response, the Raptors labeled the Knicks’ allegations as “baseless” and characterized the lawsuit as a mere “public relations stunt.” They contended that the so-called stolen data primarily consisted of publicly available information, readily accessible to all NBA teams.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković and player development coach Noah Lewis, along with multiple unnamed employees, were listed as defendants in the suit. The Raptors called for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to intervene and resolve the conflict. Ultimately, a judge in the U.S. Southern District Court in Lower Manhattan agreed, leading to the case being dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought back to court.
This rapid development signals a shift in focus for both franchises, allowing them to concentrate on the upcoming NBA season without the shadow of litigation looming over their operations. Fans and analysts will now be watching closely to see how both teams capitalize on this fresh start.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
