Raptors jersey #7, Andrea Bargnani, is one of the newer faces on the Toronto Raptors team. He was selected first overall in the 2006 NBA Draft. This power forward/center from Italy is 7 feet tall and weights 250 pounds. Being from Italy, he has no U.S. college experience and was drafted right from Italy on November 1st, 2006. In 8 minutes of play during his debut game he recorded 2 points, 2 rebounds and 2 blocks. Andrea Bargnani is the 4th ever NBA player to have been born in Italy.
As many rookies do, Bargnani struggled during his debut season, but gradually picked it up as he became accustomed to the National Basketball Association. Sure enough his confidence grew, and it showed. As his game improved, so did his playing time. Andrea Bargnani worked a lot on his defense and shooting early on and was eventually chosen as the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the second straight time on March 1st, 2007. Among the ranks of Vince Carter and Damon Stoudamire, Andrea Bargnani was the 3rd Toronto Raptor ever to win the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month twice.
The Andrea Bargnani Raptors jersey had to take a month long rest beginning on March 21st, 2007 when he was taken to the hospital due to illness after practice the night before. It had turned out that Andrea needed emergency appendectomy surgery. He recovered and went on to finish the season averaging 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Andrea Bargnani has been credited in drastically helping the Raptors win their first ever Division title, as well as their first NBA Playoffs berth in 5 years. Bargnani averaged 11.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg as the New Jersey Nets defeated the Raptors 4-2 in the 1st round. Andrea Bargnani came in second for the NBA Rookie of the Year.