The Raptors are the 2019 NBA Champs!!! I like saying that. I
will always remember where I was, who I was with and that glorious feeling of
the “Sixers” (the 416ixers) winning in six. Two million people showed up for
the parade to celebrate their historic win. This post is not about how great or
historic that win was. We all know it was and then some more. It’s not about
all the nail biting games they clinched leading up to it. It’s about how one
man had a vision and moved his team towards executing that vision ever so well.
It’s about leadership. The one big reason, in my humble opinion, why the
Raptors won the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Most people did not understand or agree with the firing of
former Raptor’s head coach Dwayne Casey, who had just been awarded Coach of the
Year. Most people did not understand and hated the trade of fan favourite and
star player DeMar DeRozen for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. It did not make
sense to most, but to President of Raptor’s, Masai Ujiri, it made perfect
sense. He was the leader that made the 2019 NBA championship possible. He
executed pure and simple leadership.
·
Vision
– He had a vision for the team and executed it with precision. He communicated
that vision over and over, never giving up on it even when the team couldn’t
see it. When the reality of it seemed like it was slipping away he still communicated
that vision. He bought into the vision and kept selling us that vision at every
opportunity he got. Yes, we all bought into it.
·
Seizing
Opportunity – It was risky signing Kawhi Leonard coming off an injury, yet
he seized it. A risky move, that later would pay off with an NBA championship
and making Leonard one of the most valuable players in the sport.
·
Get the
right people on the bus and get the wrong people off the bus – It’s a Jim
Collin’s quote from his book “Good to Great”. If you haven’t read it, read it!
It’s a great one. I’m sure it wasn’t easy letting Casey and Derozen go. To
execute his vision and have it fulfilled however, it was needed. He needed to
change up the dynamics of the team, change the leadership within it, so he
could move it forward. He let them go, moved up Nick Nurse to head coach and
brought in key players to fulfill his vision. After winning the championship he
did give credit to both Casey and Derozen who were instrumental in the road
towards the championship. Classy leadership!
·
Passion
– He never lacked passion, in his pursuit of his vision, in the communication
of his vision and the way he led. At times, he got into hot water trying to
rally the team a little “too passionately” before crucial games.
·
Trust - He
trusted his team, even when it seemed to not go as well. He was steadfast in
his belief and trust in their capabilities and what they can achieve together.
If you follow basketball or the Raptors you would know that
Kawhi Leonard, did not end up signing another season with Toronto. No hard
feelings. We thank him for a stellar year and giving the city and the country something,
we’ve never had before, an NBA championship. We wish him the best but not too
much. We want to see the Raptors win again sometime soon. I trust Ujiri may
have something up his sleeve …. I think it’s leadership.
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