Knicks Seek Over $10M in Damages from Raptors, Oppose NBA-Run Arbitration

The Knicks argue that the lawsuit, alleging theft of thousands of confidential files, falls outside the purview of the NBA Constitution and should remain in federal court.

• The New York Knicks are seeking over $10 million in damages from the Toronto Raptors in a lawsuit alleging the theft of thousands of confidential files.
• The Knicks argue that the lawsuit should remain in federal court, opposing the Raptors' request to move the case to an NBA-run arbitration.
• The Knicks allege that former team video coordinator, Ikechukwu Azotam, was recruited by the Raptors and took scouting reports and over 3,000 video files with him to Toronto.
• The Knicks argue that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is not suitable to arbitrate the dispute due to his close relationship with Raptors governor Larry Tanenbaum.
• The Knicks claim that the dispute is about the theft of trade secrets, not basketball operations, and thus falls outside the purview of the NBA Constitution.

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