Knicks, Raptors End 2023 Data-Theft Lawsuit With Voluntary Dismissal
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The New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors have agreed to voluntarily dismiss a 2023 lawsuit that accused the Canadian club and several employees of stealing proprietary scouting and coaching materials, according to a filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Spokespersons for both organizations said in a joint statement to ESPN that “the matter is resolved” and that the parties “are focused on the future.” The case was dismissed with prejudice, ending all related claims.
The Knicks had sought more than $10 million in damages. Their complaint alleged that Ikechukwu Azotam—hired by New York in 2020 and later recruited by Toronto in summer 2023—took internal files as he transitioned to his new role with the Raptors. Defendants named in the suit included the Raptors, team owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, head coach Darko Rajaković, player-development coach Noah Lewis, Azotam, and 10 unidentified staff members.
According to court documents, the Knicks contended that Azotam forwarded data from his Knicks email account to his personal Gmail account beginning in July 2023. The material reportedly involved scouting reports, play-frequency analyses, a preparation book, and a link to licensed third-party software. The complaint also said Azotam used the Knicks’ Synergy Sports account to generate and transfer more than 3,000 files—among them 3,358 videos—that were accessed over 2,000 times by Raptors personnel.
Toronto denied wrongdoing in an October 2023 filing, calling the allegations “baseless” and “a public-relations stunt.” The club argued the information in question was largely compiled from sources available to every NBA franchise.
After a judge referred the dispute to NBA arbitration earlier this year, the teams have now concluded the matter through their voluntary dismissal.
Source: Basketball Insiders
