The New York Knicks have filed a lawsuit against Atlantic Division rivals Toronto Raptors and former Knicks employee Ikechukwu Azotam for taking proprietary information, according to a report by Ian Begley of SNY.
Azotam worked for the Knicks from November 2020 until the Raptors recruited him to work on the other side of the Canadian border last June 2023.
He started as an assistant video coordinator, climbing up the ranks to be the director of video/analytics/player development assistant during his time in New York.
The Knicks claim that Azotam illegally took thousands of proprietary files with him to his new position with the Raptors.
"These files include confidential information such as play frequency reports, a prep book for the 2022-23 season, video scouting files and materials and more," according to an MSG spokesperson.
With his actions, Azotam violated a confidentiality clause requiring him "to maintain the secrecy of all confidential or proprietary Knicks information."
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New Raptors head coach among those sued
Newly-hired Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković and several other Raptors employees were among those listed in the case as defendants.
The Raptors are accused of conspiring with Azotam to use his position with the Knicks to obtain the confidential information, which aimed to help them organize, plan, and structure the new coaching and video operations staff, according to the lawsuit.
The Raptors have issued a statement regarding the matter, saying they are about to conduct an internal investigation and fully cooperate.
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