The Toronto Raptors are officially in the clear after the New York Knicks dropped their year-long lawsuit accusing the only NBA Canadian franchise of stealing proprietary basketball data and scouting information.
According to court documents obtained by ESPN, both teams agreed this week to voluntarily dismiss the case, ending one of the NBA’s more unusual off-court disputes. In a joint statement released to ESPN, the Raptors and Knicks said they were “focused on the future,” signaling the conflict has been resolved permanently.
Knicks Originally Alleged ‘Theft’ of Scouting Data
The lawsuit, filed by Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. in August 2023, alleged that a former Knicks employee, Ikechukwu Azotam, had illegally shared thousands of confidential files with members of the Raptors’ coaching staff after accepting a position in Toronto.
Azotam, who worked in the Knicks’ video and analytics department, allegedly forwarded proprietary materials — including internal scouting reports, video breakdowns, and play-frequency data — to his personal email before leaving the organization.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković, who was entering his first year at the helm, player development coach Noah Lewis, and several unnamed staff members were also listed as defendants. The Knicks claimed the information was used to help Toronto organize and structure its new coaching and video operations department.
The Knicks maintained that the data contained “trade secrets” such as team prep books and Synergy Sports analytics, arguing the Raptors gained an unfair competitive advantage.
Raptors Called Claims ‘Baseless’
The Raptors vigorously denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit “baseless” and “a public relations stunt.”
In an October 2023 filing, the Raptors’ legal team said the information in question “involved little more than publicly available data compiled through league-wide services.”
Rajaković also addressed the controversy during Toronto’s media day that season, saying he was “shocked” by the allegations but confident his name would be cleared.
“I know who I am, and I know how I was raised,” Rajaković said at the time. “There’s nothing I should be worried about. I couldn’t wait for this lawsuit to be over so everybody can find the truth.”
NBA Urged to Step In
Throughout the proceedings, the Raptors urged NBA commissioner Adam Silver to mediate the dispute, arguing that the matter should be handled internally by the league rather than in a U.S. federal court.
A judge in the Southern District of New York later encouraged both sides to resolve the case out of court. Earlier this week, they jointly filed a voluntary dismissal with prejudice, meaning the lawsuit cannot be refiled in the future.
Business Continued Despite the Dispute
Notably, the legal battle did not prevent the two franchises from completing a major transaction during the 2023–24 season.
In December 2023, the Knicks and Raptors finalized one of the year’s biggest trades — a blockbuster deal that sent OG Anunoby to New York in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and draft considerations.
The move underscored the professionalism of both front offices, which managed to execute a mutually beneficial deal even as the lawsuit remained active. It also sent Barrett, a former No. 3 pick, back home to Canada, where he quickly became one of the faces of the Raptors’ new era.
Raptors Move Forward
With the case now officially closed, the Raptors can turn their focus fully to basketball. Rajaković continues to guide the team through its transition phase, while Azotam — who appears to still be with the organization based on his public social media profile — remains at the center of what was once a high-profile controversy.
Neither the Raptors nor the NBA issued further comment after the dismissal, but both clubs reiterated they are “focused on the future.”
The decision ends more than a year of legal tension between Toronto and New York — and reaffirms that, at last, the Raptors’ biggest battles are back on the court.
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