2019 Raptors champion stunningly deported from Belgium

While most of the championship-winning 2019 Toronto Raptors roster has dispersed across the NBA in the last few years, a handful of players have tried to go overseas in an attempt to prolong their basketball careers. Stringy guard Patrick McCaw tried to do just that in Belgium this season.

After injuries and ineffectiveness led to his eventual release from the Raptors, McCaw ended up in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats. McCaw then saw fit to give international play a shot, signing with Filou Oostende in the BNXT league that governs the Netherlands and Belgium.

His tenure in Belgium ended before it even began, as he was detained for three days due to problems with his visa. McCaw was detained for four days at the Brussels airport. A report from Belgian outlet Sporza said that McCaw failed to “pass passport control,” as his document was flagged as lost or stolen.

Minister of State Johan Vande Lanotte tried to get McCaw’s situation cleared up, but the effort was ruled unsuccessful after it became clear that it would take months to resolve this problem. As a result, McCaw was deported back to America, and Oostende will need to find a replacement for him.

Toronto Raptors champion Patrick McCaw deported from Belgium.

After famously winning three consecutive championships by joining the Raptors after two years with the Golden State Warriors, McCaw had some impressive nights in the 2019-20 season, starting 12 games and averaging 4.6 points per game on 41% shooting from the floor.

Unfortunately, he only saw the floor in five games after that, as his body seemed to break down with regularity. Whatever he brought to the table as a versatile guard who could defend well was outweighed by the fact he was banged up constantly. His shooting from deep never improved substantially, either.

If McCaw is having a difficult time getting all the necessary information needed to play in Europe, don’t be surprised if he goes back to the G League in an attempt to get attention from NBA teams. Still just 27 years old, McCaw might have enough left in the tank for one more NBA run.