Toronto Raptors: NBA's melting pot led by Nigerian with world on his shoulders

    By Motez Bishara, CNN

    Updated 1948 GMT (0348 HKT) January 21, 2016

    Toronto Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia receives the game ball from Piccolo the Elephant as part of the annual Baisakhi Day celebration of the Sikh New Year hosted by the team at the Air Canada Centre.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Toronto Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia receives the game ball from Piccolo the Elephant as part of the annual Baisakhi Day celebration of the Sikh New Year hosted by the team at the Air Canada Centre.
    Hide Caption
    1 of 11
    Raptors president and GM Masai Ujiri -- who was born in Nigeria -- relishes his role as the leader of a diverse team, and says the NBA will eventually feature many Africa-born players. He is pictured at the Basketball Without Borders Africa camp in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 2015.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Raptors president and GM Masai Ujiri -- who was born in Nigeria -- relishes his role as the leader of a diverse team, and says the NBA will eventually feature many Africa-born players. He is pictured at the Basketball Without Borders Africa camp in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 2015.
    Hide Caption
    2 of 11
    Rap star Drake -- a Toronto native and big Raptors fan -- hosts an annual Drake night at the Air Canada Centre. He is seen cheering on the team in a 2014 first-round playoff game against the Brooklyn Nets.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Rap star Drake -- a Toronto native and big Raptors fan -- hosts an annual Drake night at the Air Canada Centre. He is seen cheering on the team in a 2014 first-round playoff game against the Brooklyn Nets.
    Hide Caption
    3 of 11
    Argentinian Luis Scola of the Toronto Raptors has enjoyed life in Canada with his wife and four kids. "You get to know different people, speak different languages, you get to know a new country, the history, the culture, a new city. You get to know a lot of new places, exciting places," he told the Toronto Star.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Argentinian Luis Scola of the Toronto Raptors has enjoyed life in Canada with his wife and four kids. "You get to know different people, speak different languages, you get to know a new country, the history, the culture, a new city. You get to know a lot of new places, exciting places," he told the Toronto Star.
    Hide Caption
    4 of 11
    Guard DeMar DeRozan (#10) is one of two Toronto Raptors to make an All-Star appearance, along with Kyle Lowry. The backcourt mates will be gunning for All-Star spots when Toronto hosts the exhibition game in February.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Guard DeMar DeRozan (#10) is one of two Toronto Raptors to make an All-Star appearance, along with Kyle Lowry. The backcourt mates will be gunning for All-Star spots when Toronto hosts the exhibition game in February.
    Hide Caption
    5 of 11
    Traditionally the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs have been the hot ticket in town, with regular sellouts over the decades. But a new wave of immigrants have gravitated to the more accessible Raptors of the NBA.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Traditionally the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs have been the hot ticket in town, with regular sellouts over the decades. But a new wave of immigrants have gravitated to the more accessible Raptors of the NBA.
    Hide Caption
    6 of 11
    Toronto sports fans exulted when Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays threw his bat after hitting a home run to win game five of the American League Division Series last October. Toronto lost in the next round, however, to the Kansas City Royals, depriving the city of hosting its first World Series since 1993. "This city is just dying for a winner," says Raptors GM Ujiri.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Toronto sports fans exulted when Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays threw his bat after hitting a home run to win game five of the American League Division Series last October. Toronto lost in the next round, however, to the Kansas City Royals, depriving the city of hosting its first World Series since 1993. "This city is just dying for a winner," says Raptors GM Ujiri.
    Hide Caption
    7 of 11
    Brazilian player Lucas Nogueira says living in the international hub of Toronto offers advantages over other NBA cities, including Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Brazilian player Lucas Nogueira says living in the international hub of Toronto offers advantages over other NBA cities, including Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
    Hide Caption
    8 of 11
    Nogueira's teammate Bruno Caboclo has found a home with Toronto's large Brazilian community, eating food from his home country three times a week.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Nogueira's teammate Bruno Caboclo has found a home with Toronto's large Brazilian community, eating food from his home country three times a week.
    Hide Caption
    9 of 11
    Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (#8), who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, says that despite the weather, moving from Charlotte to Toronto was an easy transition for him.
    Photos: Canada's multicultural basketball team
    Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (#8), who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, says that despite the weather, moving from Charlotte to Toronto was an easy transition for him.
    Hide Caption
    10 of 11
    Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas (#17) is one of seven non-Americans on the Raptors' roster -- leading the NBA for international players.
    Photos: