Andrea Bargnani
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2008-07-03T03:41:41Z
LOL
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[[WT:NBA#Career player statistics]]
{{Infobox NBA Player
| name = Andrea Bargnani
| image = Andrea Bargnani.JPG
| caption =
| position = [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]/[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| league = [[NBA]]
| height_ft = 7
| weight_lb = 250
| team = [[Toronto Raptors]]
| number = 7
| nationality = [[Italy|Italian]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|10|26}}
| birth_place = [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
| college =
| highschool =
| draft = [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|1st overall]]
| draft_year = 2006
| draft_team = [[Toronto Raptors]]
| career_start = 2002
| former_teams = Stella Azzura Roma (2002-03)<br>[[Pallacanestro Treviso|Benetton Treviso]] (2003-06)
| awards = 2006 [[Euroleague 2005-06|Euroleague]] Rising Star Award<br>[[2006-07 NBA season|2006-07]] [[NBA All-Rookie Team]]
}}
'''Andrea Bargnani''', nicknamed "'''Il Mago'''" (translated to "The Magician"), (born [[October 26]] [[1985]] in [[Rome]], [[Italy]]) is an [[Italy|Italian]] professional [[basketball]] player with the [[Toronto Raptors]] of the [[National Basketball Association]]. He was selected first overall in the [[2006 NBA Draft]]. Prior to his NBA career, Bargnani played for Italy's [[Pallacanestro Treviso|Benetton Treviso]] in the [[Serie A (basketball)|Italian Lega A]] and the elite Europe-wide [[Euroleague]].
==Career==
===Europe===
Bargnani began his career in 2002–03 with Stella Azzura Roma in Italy's Serie B2 division, averaging 13.2 [[point (basketball)|points]] and 4.5 [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]] in 23 games.<ref name=bio>[http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andrea_bargnani/bio.html Andrea Bargnani Info Page - Bio], nba.com, accessed [[15 February]] [[2008]].</ref> He then signed with [[Serie A (basketball)|Lega A]] side [[Benetton Treviso]] for the 2003–04 season and played there until 2006.
In 2003–04, he posted averages of 4.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10 games in his first Lega A season with Benetton.<ref name=bio/> He made eight appearances in [[Euroleague]] action, recording 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds an outing.<ref name=bio/> Incidentally, Bargnani faced his future team, the [[Toronto Raptors]], on [[20 October]] [[2003]] in a pre-season game at the [[Air Canada Centre]]. He tallied 13 points, five rebounds, one [[steal (basketball)|steal]] and two [[block (basketball)|blocks]] in 22 minutes in an 86–83 defeat to the Raptors.
In 2004–05, he averaged 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 28 Lega A games for Benetton, and averaged 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18 Euroleague matches.<ref name=bio/> The next season, he averaged 15.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.8 steals in 47 games for Benetton.<ref name=bio/> He posted a season high of 25 points against Rome. He also shot .528 from the field and .408 from [[three pointer|three-point range]], and led the Lega A in blocks with 82. In the process, he helped lead Benetton to Italy's Lega A 2006 championship. In the Euroleague, he contributed 10.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, while shooting .558 percent from the floor and .434 from three-point range in 18 games.<ref name=bio/> He posted a season-high 20 points against [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]] and [[Strasbourg IG|Strasbourg]].<ref name=bio/> Bargnani was subsequently named as the Euroleague "Rising Star" as the "Top European Young Player of the Year" for 2005–06.<ref name=bio/>
===NBA===
====Rookie season====
Bargnani entered the [[2006 NBA Draft]] and was selected first overall by the [[Toronto Raptors]]. On [[November 1]], [[2006]], in his regular season debut against the [[New Jersey Nets]], in 8 minutes of play he recorded 2 points, 2 rebounds and 2 blocks.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20061101/TORNJN/boxscore.html Box Score], nba.com, [[1 November]] [[2006]], accessed [[11 April]] [[2007]].</ref> In the process, he also became the fourth ever Italian-born player to play in the NBA.<ref>Robbins, Liz, [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/sports/basketball/28nba.html?ex=1309147200&en=1f94e50f6421ced3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss "Going Where No Italian Has Gone"], nytimes.com, [[28 June]] [[2006]], accessed [[23 March]] [[2007]].</ref> Like many rookies, Bargnani took some time to adapt to the league and as he slowly improved his game, his confidence and playing time increased. Nonetheless, the home fans soon warmed up to Bargnani; on [[January 7]], [[2007]], 10,000 Bargnani figurines were given away at [[Air Canada Centre]] for the game against the [[Washington Wizards]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_010707.html Raptors Post Up], nba.com/raptors, [[7 January]] [[2007]], accessed [[11 April]] [[2007]].</ref> As the mid-season approached, Bargnani was selected as NBA's [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] Rookie of the Month (January 2007),<ref name="rotm">[http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/bargnani_020107.html Bargnani Named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month"], nba.com/raptors, [[1 February]] [[2007]], accessed [[23 March]] [[2007]].</ref> joining fellow teammate [[Jorge Garbajosa]] (winner of the award in December 2006) as the sixth Raptors player to win the monthly honor.<ref name="rotm"/> Together with Garbajosa, Bargnani was also selected to play in the [[2007 NBA All-Star Game|T-Mobile Rookie Challenge game]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/allstar2007/news/challenge_070131.html "No. 1 Draft Picks Bargnani and Bogut Head Selections For 2007 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam"], nba.com/allstar2007, [[10 February]] [[2007]], accessed [[23 March]] [[2007]].</ref> After the [[NBA All-Star Weekend|All-Star break]], Bargnani continued to work on his defense and shooting (averaging 14.3 points per game (ppg) and 3.9 rebounds per game (rpg) in 12 games for the month of February 2007), and he was selected as the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the second straight time on [[1 March]] [[2007]].<ref name=rotm2>[http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/pr_bargnani030107.html "Bargnani Named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month"], nba.com/raptors, [[1 March]] [[2007]], accessed [[23 March]] [[2007]].</ref> Bargnani became the third Raptor ever to win the award twice, joining [[Vince Carter]] and [[Damon Stoudamire]].<ref name=rotm2/>
On [[21 March]] [[2007]], Bargnani underwent emergency [[appendectomy]] surgery after being taken to hospital following illness experienced after practice the night before.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2806697 Raptors' Bargnani has appendix removed], sports.espn.com, [[21 March]] [[2007]], accessed [[1 April]] [[2007]].</ref> He recovered after about a month, and ended the season, averaging 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.<ref name="stats">[http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andrea_bargnani/career_stats.html Andrea Bargnani Info Page - Career Stats and Totals], nba.com, accessed [[30 April]] [[2008]].</ref> His performances were credited as helping the Raptors win their first ever [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Division]] title, as well as their first [[NBA Playoffs]] berth in five years; Bargnani came in second for [[NBA Rookie of the Year]].<ref>''Associated Press'', [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2857872 "Roy receives 127 of 128 first-place votes as top rookie"], sports.espn.go.com, [[2 May]] [[2007]], accessed [[3 May]] [[2007]].</ref> In the [[2007 NBA Playoffs]], Bargnani averaged 11.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg as the Raptors were defeated by the [[New Jersey Nets]] 4–2 in the first round.<ref name=stats/> On [[8 May]] [[2007]], Bargnani and Garbajosa were named to the NBA All-Rookie team.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/all_rookie_2007s.html Andrea Bargnani & Jorge Garbajosa Highlight 2007 All-Rookie Team], nba.com/raptors, [[8 May]] [[2007]], accessed [[11 May]] [[2007]].</ref>
====Sophomore campaign====
On [[5 October]] [[2007]], the Raptors announced they had exercised a third year option on Bargnani, giving a guaranteed NBA contract through the 2008–09 season and retaining a fourth year option for the 2009–10 season.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/bargnani_100507.html Raptors Exercise Third Year Option On Andrea Bargnani], raptors.com, [[5 October]] [[2007]], accessed [[5 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Prior to the [[2007-08 NBA season|2007–08 season]], Bargnani was voted by the GMs of the league as the "international player most likely to have a breakout season".<ref>[http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/270144 GMs tip Bargnani for big year], thestar.com, [[25 October]] [[2007]], accessed [[26 October]] [[2007]].</ref> Seemingly asked to play out of position, he was slated to form the front court together with [[NBA All-Star|All-Star]] [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] [[Chris Bosh]], but despite leading the team in scoring for the first couple of games, Bargnani struggled for most of the first half of the season.<ref>Grange, Michael, [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071115.wsptraps15/GSStory/GlobeSportsBasketball/Raptors "Defence gets the point, but offence doesn't"], theglobeandmail.com, [[15 November]] [[2007]], accessed [[30 November]] [[2007]].</ref> Notwithstanding his poor form, the Italian was selected to play in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam during the NBA All-Star Weekend.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/moonbargnani_013008.html Bargnani & Moon Selected To Play In ’08 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge], nba.com/raptors, [[30 January]] [[2008]], accessed [[31 January]] [[2008]].</ref> By the season's end however, Bargnani was widely criticised (including by Bosh) for having a poor season. His statistics had gone down, he was not grabbing enough rebounds, was unable to shoot well, got into foul trouble easily and did not drive to the basket enough.<ref name=stats/><ref name=off>Feschuk, Dave, [http://www.thestar.com/Sports/NBA/article/419782 "Raptors' Bargnani a symbol of stalled progress"], thestar.com, [[30 April]] [[2008]], accessed [[1 May]] [[2008]].</ref> He did not feature prominently in [[2008 NBA Playoffs|the playoffs]] either—which the Raptors were eliminated by the [[Orlando Magic]] in the first round—and there were even calls for him to be traded.<ref name=off/>
===National team===
Bargnani has played for the Italian junior and under-20 national teams. He competed on the World Select Team at the 2004 [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] Hoop Summit. Bargnani also featured in [[EuroBasket 2007]]. The [[Italy national basketball team|Italians]] finished ninth in the competition and in six games Bargnani averaged 12.7 ppg and 5.0 rpg in 28.7 minutes per game.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.teamID_307.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.playerID_36246.html Andrea Bargnani (Italy)], eurobasket2007.org, accessed [[30 November]] [[2007]].</ref>
==Player profile==
Andrea Bargnani is a [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] standing at 213 cm (7 ft 0 in) and weighing 113.4 kg (250 lbs).<ref>[http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andrea_bargnani/ Andrea Bargnani Info Page], nba.com, accessed [[23 March]] [[2007]].</ref> His long-range shooting ability and ability to drive (dribble to the basket) make his game more akin to that of a [[small forward (basketball)|small forward]], however.
He has drawn many comparisons to [[Germany|German]] NBA player [[Dirk Nowitzki]], mainly due to his ability to shoot [[Three-point field goal|from the perimeter]], his mobility despite his size, and his ball-handling skills.<ref>Broussard, Chris, [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=espnmag/bargnani "ESPN The Magazine: Meet Andrea Bargnani"], sports.espn.com, [[28 February]] [[2007]], accessed [[23 March]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>Pelton, Kevin, [http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/preview070311.html "Insider Preview - Sonics at Toronto"], nba.com/sonics, [[11 March]] [[2007]], accessed [[23 March]] [[2007]].</ref> Bargnani is also the first European player,<ref name=bio/> sixth non-American player, and second player without [[college basketball|U.S. college]] or [[high school]] experience to be drafted first overall.
==NBA career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
:(''Correct as of 30 April 2008'')<ref name=stats/>
==== Regular season ====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07]]
| align="left" | [[Toronto Raptors|Toronto]]
| 65 || 2 || '''25.1''' || '''.427''' || '''.373''' || .824 || '''3.9''' || .8 || '''.5''' || '''.8''' || '''11.6'''
|-
| align="left" | [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08]]
| align="left" | [[Toronto Raptors|Toronto]]
| '''78''' || '''53''' || 23.9 || .386 || .345 || '''.840''' || 3.7 || '''1.1''' || .3 || .5 || 10.2
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 143 || 55 || 24.4 || .405 || .359 || .833 || 3.8 || 1.0 || .4 || .6 || 10.8
{{end box}}
==== Playoffs ====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | [[2007 NBA Playoffs|2006–07]]
| align="left" | [[Toronto Raptors|Toronto]]
| '''6''' || 3 || '''30.2''' || '''.478''' || '''.412''' || .789 || '''4.0''' || '''1.0''' || '''.8''' || .5 || '''11.0'''
|-
| align="left" | [[2008 NBA Playoffs|2007–08]]
| align="left" | [[Toronto Raptors|Toronto]]
| 5 || '''5''' || 20.8 || .333 || .250 || '''1.000''' || 1.4 || .4 || '''.8''' || '''.6''' || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 11 || 8 || 25.9 || .412 || .333 || .810 || 2.8 || .7 || .8 || .6 || 8.9
{{end box}}
==Awards and honours==
*Team
**[[Atlantic Division (NBA)|NBA Atlantic Division Champion]] with the [[Toronto Raptors]]: 2007
*Individual
**[[Euroleague 2005-06|Euroleague]] Rising Star Award: 2006
**[[NBA All-Rookie Team|NBA All-Rookie First Team]]: 2007
**NBA Rookie of the Month: January 2007, February 2007
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*{{NBA-profile}}
*{{basketball-reference}}
*[http://www.thedraftinsider.com/nbaplayerfeatures2006/andreabargnani.php TheDraftInsider player feature]
*[http://nbadraft.net/profiles/andreabargnani.asp NBADraft.net]
*[http://www.interbasket.net/players/bargnani.htm Andrea Bargnani player profile (InterBasket)]
*[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=espnmag/bargnani ESPN The Magazine: Meet Andrea Bargnani]
{{start box}}
{{Succession box | title= [[NBA first overall draft pick]] | before = [[Andrew Bogut]] | years= [[2006 NBA Draft]] | after=[[Greg Oden]]}}
{{end box}}
{{Toronto Raptors current roster}}
{{NBA NumberOne Draft Picks}}
{{2006 NBA Draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bargnani, Andrea}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Toronto Raptors players]]
[[Category:Italian basketball players]]
[[Category:Italian expatriates in Canada]]
[[Category:People from Rome (city)]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Power forwards (basketball)]]
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