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

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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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