Warriors’ Weltz apologizes to Raptors’ president

Warriors president Rick Welts has publicly apologized to Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri for the incident that occurred at Oracle Arena after the deciding game of the NBA Finals in June 2019.

Ujiri and an arena security officer had an altercation as Ujiri attempted to join the Raptors on the court to celebrate their championship.

“To my personal and professional friend Masai Ujiri,” Welts wrote Friday on Twitter, “I am heartbroken seeing the video of what should have been the happiest professional moment of your life. It’s hard to watch and to know all that swirled around you in the aftermath.”

The video, shot from a body camera on Alameda County sheriff’s deputy Alan Strickland, was released last week by Ujiri’s attorneys. Strickland is shown on the video shoving Ujiri as the Raptors president tries to make his way onto the court

Strickland has sued Ujiri, alleging assault of a law enforcement official. Ujiri has countersued, alleging that he was racially profiled by Strickland and stopped only because he is Black.

“While we had no role in hiring or managing security at our old arena, it happened at a Warriors game and for that I apologize,” Welts wrote on Twitter. “You rose above it which doesn’t surprise me or anyone who knows you.”

“Now...go make some noise in the bubble!” Welts said in concluding his post.

The closing was a reference to the NBA “bubble” in Orlando, Florida, where the playoffs are being conducted. The defendingchampion Raptors hold a 3-0 lead in their first-round series against Brooklyn.