Knicks and Raptors End Lawsuit Over Alleged Theft of Sensitive Information
The legal dispute, which lasted over two years, has concluded as both teams mutually agreed to dismiss the allegations against each other.
The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors have mutually agreed to drop a lawsuit claiming that the Raptors unlawfully acquired thousands of confidential files from the Knicks, as reported by ESPN. This decision to dismiss the case with prejudice marks the conclusion of the legal conflict that began nearly two years ago when the Knicks initiated the lawsuit in August 2023.
In a statement to ESPN, representatives from both teams confirmed, “The Knicks and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment have retracted their respective claims, allowing the matter to be resolved. The focus is now on future endeavors.”
The Knicks accused the Raptors of recruiting Ikechukwu Azotam, who previously served as their assistant video coordinator, and directing him to share confidential materials such as play frequency reports and prep books for the 2022-23 season. They sought a sum of $10 million in damages.
Interestingly, lawsuits between NBA teams are relatively rare. The only other documented case occurred in 1977 when the Knicks were embroiled in a legal battle with the Nets over territorial rights.
