Knicks, Raptors Drop 2023 Data-Theft Lawsuit
knicks-raptors-drop-2023-data-theft-lawsuit
The New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors have agreed to permanently end the lawsuit the Knicks filed in 2023 over the alleged theft of confidential team information, according to a court filing entered on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.
Both organizations issued an identical statement after the filing: “The Knicks and [Raptors owner] Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment withdrew their respective claims and the matter is resolved. The Parties are focused on the future.”
The Knicks originally sued in August 2023, seeking more than $10 million in damages. Their complaint claimed that Toronto recruited former Knicks employee Ikechukwu Azotam—who worked in New York from 2020 to 2023—and directed him to send thousands of internal files. The material allegedly included play-frequency reports, a 2022-23 season preparation book, video scouting files and opposition research intended to give the Raptors an on-court advantage.
Azotam, now working for Toronto, was accused of forwarding the information while the Raptors were “organiz[ing], plan[ning] and structur[ing] the new coaching and video operations staff,” according to the original filing. He, the Raptors, head coach Darko Rajaković, player development coach Noah Lewis and 10 unidentified employees were listed as defendants.
In an October 2023 response, the Raptors called the allegations “baseless” and a “public relations stunt,” arguing that the disputed data came largely from publicly available sources. The team also asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver to intervene, a request that a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York later endorsed.
The case has been dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled, officially closing the two-year legal dispute between the Atlantic Division rivals.
Source: ESPN
