“The natural thing in Africa is to start playing soccer at 8 or 9. You go outside and you play like kids play basketball here, and you grow a feel for the game. In Africa, the kids start playing basketball at 16 or 17 or 18, and when they get an opportunity to come here, they have been playing for only one or two years.”

Canadian basketball executive and former player

Masai Ujiri is a Canadian basketball executive and former player. He is president of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Ujiri built his career in professional basketball first as a player, then in front office leadership. He is known for his executive work in the NBA, especially in team management and decision making at the highest level of the sport.