The Toronto Raptors used the No. 33 pick in the NBA Draft on Cameroonian-born center Christian Koloko. With Masai Ujiri as dedicated to growing the game of basketball in Africa as anyone and Pascal Siakam in place as the team’s star, African talent is making up the bedrock of this organization.
Only 74 players who have even played one NBA game have been born in Africa, yet a handful of them have taken their talents up north. Considering how successful the franchise has been in the last decade, it’s fair to say that Ujiri’s organizational philosophy is working.
Koloko is going to be the next African standout in the pipeline as he tries to smooth out his game and eventually mold himself into a player Toronto can count on. He’ll have to follow in the footsteps of some current starters and past contributors.
These three studs currently stand out as the best African-born players the Raptors have ever had on their roster. It will take a lot for Koloko to surpass one of them eventually, but it wouldn’t be impossible for him to put his name in this very select club sooner rather than later.
Top 3 African-born players in Toronto Raptors history.
3. Precious Achiuwa
Even after just one season in Toronto, and a season that featured a very slow start, Achiuwa has become one of the organization’s most prized assets. Born in Port Harcourt, Achiuwa went from an intriguing developmental piece to a mainstay of their rotation.
Achiuwa averaged 12.2 points per game after the All-Star break last season, as his resurgence was keyed by an improved 3-point shot that he uncorked more regularly. Achiuwa was cast away by a Miami team that was seeking a better short-term upgrade, but he’s found a home in Toronto.
Precious Achiuwa has been a rock for the Toronto Raptors.
The extraordinary defensive package he brings to the table will make Achiuwa an even more beloved fan favorite and someone that Nick Nurse can count on in the next few years. With wing-like athletic ability and the muscle of a true center, Achiuwa can already lock down some of the best in the game.
It took a lot for Precious to beat out Bismack Biyombo’s impressive season with Toronto, but Achiuwa’s long-term potential will help him become one of the best power forwards in team history should the Raptors continue to bring him back. Achiuwa is some improved finishing away from becoming a true game-changer.
2. Serge Ibaka
Ibaka has since moved on to green pastures, as he joined up with the Clippers prior to a trade that sent him to Milwaukee. Ibaka may not have stuck around for the long haul, but he played a key role in establishing the Raptors as a championship-caliber franchise in the paint.
In parts of four seasons with Toronto, Ibaka averaged 14.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. With a robust 36% success rate from 3-point range and 1.2 blocks per contest in that span, Ibaka was a force in the paint and on the perimeter. Without him, the Raptors may have had some extra playoff stumbles.
Serge Ibaka was a leader for the Toronto Raptors.
Getting someone of Ibaka’s caliber for Terrence Ross will go down as one of Ujiri’s best trades ever. While Ibaka wouldn’t have been the determining factor in the championship run, it’s easy to see the pitfalls that having an experienced big man with versatility helped Toronto avoid.
The Raptors have been trying to scoop up players with a similar play style to that of the Congolese big man, with mixed results. An utterly unique character and leader who joined the team at the perfect time, Ibaka is going to be remembered fondly by the Raptors’ history books.
1. Pascal Siakam
Did you really expect someone else? Siakam is not only one of the best players from Africa that ever suited up in Raptors colors, but he’s one of the unquestioned top players in franchise history. Even with a standout 2022-23 ahead of him, his name is plastered all over the record books.
Siakam ranks seventh in points and rebounds, eighth in assists, and tenth in steals and blocks. The only other player in Raptors history who is in the Top 10 in all of those categories is Chris Bosh. Siakam is going to climb further up these lists in his next campaign.
Pascal Siakam continues to get better for the Toronto Raptors.
Siakam wears a ton of hats for the Raptors, as he is sometimes asked to be a primary offensive catalyst, perimeter defender, and rim-runner all within the span of a few quarters. The fact that the Cameroonian sensation can pull that off with so much aplomb says a lot about his mindset.
Siakam is making a legitimate case for a jersey retirement at some point. His accomplishments in a Raptors uniform are only going to grow more numerous. It’s still mind-boggling to think about how late Siakam picked up basketball in his home country and how rapidly he improved.