Masai Ujiri Makes Time Magazine’s ‘The 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026’

Masai Ujiri, a leading sports executive from Nigeria and Africa, has earned a spot on Time Magazine's prestigious 2026 list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports. The list also features global sports figures such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, golfer Nelly Korda, NBA star Stephen Curry, and Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli.

Time Magazine highlighted Ujiri's recent appointment to the ownership group of the WNBA expansion franchise, the Toronto Tempo, and his subsequent naming as the new president of the Dallas Mavericks. His immediate task is to build a championship-caliber team around 19-year-old NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. Ujiri expressed his ambition, stating, "We have a little prince here. Now we’re going to turn him into a king."

Born in England and raised in Nigeria, Ujiri holds the distinction of being the only non-American to have won the NBA's Executive of the Year award, which he received in 2013 as general manager of the Denver Nuggets. His tenure with the Toronto Raptors saw a bold strategic move when he traded popular player DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard before the 2018-2019 season. This gamble proved successful, leading the Raptors to a championship.

Beyond his executive roles, Ujiri has been instrumental in promoting sports across Africa. As the former director of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program in Africa and co-founder of Zaria Group, he has focused on developing sports infrastructure. He is also a co-founder of the Giants of Africa basketball initiative, which has already built 50 basketball courts on the continent with a goal of constructing 100. Last year, he was appointed a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals advocate, leveraging his platform to promote global impact through sports.

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We have a little prince here. Now we’re going to turn him into a king.