Andrea Bargnani

Andrea Bargnani was born on October 26, 1985, in Rome, Italy. Beginning his career with Stella Azzurra Roma, he signed with EuroLeague powerhouse Benetton Treviso in 2003 under coaches Ettore Messina and David Blatt. In the 2005–2006 season, Bargnani's perimeter shooting, mobility, and ball-handling at seven feet tall drew comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki. He won the 2006 EuroLeague Rising Star Award and led Benetton to the Italian Serie A championship.

On June 28, 2006, the Toronto Raptors made history by selecting Bargnani with the first overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2007 and helped the Raptors capture their first Atlantic Division championship in franchise history. In the 2010–2011 NBA season, Bargnani enjoyed his finest individual campaign, averaging 21.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. Over a ten-year NBA career with Toronto, the New York Knicks, and Brooklyn Nets, he scored over 7,900 points. Internationally, Bargnani represented the Italian national basketball team with distinction at EuroBasket 2007, 2011, and 2015.