Team Germany totally deserves all the praise in the world for their big win at EuroBasket 2025. Sure, Dennis Schroder — who used to play for the Raptors — is getting a lot of the spotlight right now for potential Hall of Fame honors down the road, but there’s another former Raptors player who made a huge impact too: Isaac Bonga.
Bonga is one of those players from Toronto's past who might have flown under your radar if you weren't paying close attention. Bonga signed with Toronto in the 2021 offseason, but he never really found his footing there. He only played in 15 games for the team, and when he did appear, he was on the court for less than five minutes each time. As a result, he barely put up any noticeable stats, if he recorded any at all.
Following his less than stellar stint with Toronto, Bonga's NBA journey appeared to come to an end as he took his talents abroad, signing with his nation's Bayern Munich basketball club and later with Partizan of the EuroLeague, where he currently plays.
But in the EuroBasket 2025 showcase, Bonga really proved how important his presence is as a tough defender and a capable shooter from beyond the arc. In fact, in the tournament final against Turkey, Bonga scored 20 points in just 24 minutes, shooting 8-for-11 from the field and 4-for-7 from three, along with five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. And rightfully so, Bonga would earn the Best Defender award at EuroBasket 2025, cementing his place as the glue holding his nation's team together.
Drawing from Bonga's impressive international campaign, Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor highlighted on X how it could earn the ex-Raptor another shot at NBA glory, mentioning a similar career resurgence for Guershon Yabusele.
Isaac Bonga is showing he deserves another shot in the NBA
Isaac Bonga looks like he deserves another chance in the NBA. The improved jumper seems real: He’s made 38.3% of his 3s in three international seasons. Could be a steal of a signing like Yabusele was last summer. https://t.co/uRdJUE0Rfr
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) September 14, 2025
I think most basketball fans understand just how valuable 3-and-D players are to NBA teams these days. And since Bonga is still pretty young at only 25, he could be a sneaky good addition for contenders who want to strengthen that specific part of their roster. However, according to European basketball news outlet BasketNews per Mozzart Sport, "Bonga extended his contract with Partizan this summer, keeping him at the club until 2027. The contract reportedly included an NBA exit clause, but it has since expired, meaning he will return to Belgrade for the new season."
So, with that being said, it might be a bit longer before we see Bonga return to the NBA. However, in the same article, his fellow countryman Franz Wagner spoke very highly of Isaac Bonga, saying, "Yes, I do believe it, actually. I think he’s shown over the past couple of years that he’s an elite defender, shoots the three really well, and can make plays off the bounce too. So I think he could have a lot of teams interested in him."
Maybe this international exposure will only boost Bonga's appeal in the NBA, and just like with Yabusele, sometimes that time away from the league is what helps a player become more polished.