Raptors Choose Andrea Bargnani As First Pick

The Italian hoops star was the first pick for Toronto’s N.B.A. franchise at the league draft in New York on Wednesday night.

The move was anticipated by many, but no one was quite sure what G.M. Bryan Colangelo would actually do with the coveted first place spot.

“It’s unbelievable,” a breathless Bargnani told U.S. media. “I feel like I’m dreaming. It’s a pleasure to be here in New York and become an N.B.A. player.”

He becomes the first ever European player to make the big league, second only to China’s Yao Ming as the only other non-American to make it in top spot.

Bargnani comes with excellent credentials. He’s 245 lbs., 7 feet tall, has great range and is quick and athletic. He spent the past three seasons playing for Benetton Treviso in his home country. He won Europe’s Rising Star award in 2005-06.

And he’s excited about playing here, especially because of Toronto’s large Italian community.

Colangelo, who remained in the city during the big revelation, admits his staff toyed around with several players.

“Everyone had strengths and weakness, but at the end of the day, we felt that Andrea Bargnani was really the best pick for the future of this organization going forward,” he explains.

“It’s not about today, it’s about today and tomorrow, and we think that Andrea is a player that is not only going to help us in the short run, but we think he’s going to grow into a star in this league.”

Texas forward LaMarcus Aldridge went to the Bulls in second spot, after speculation he’d be the Raptors’ choice. The Charlotte Bobcats picked Gonzaga forward Adam Morris third.

First 10 picks in the 2006 NBA Draft (NBA team, player, position):

1. Toronto – Andrea Bargnani, Benetton (Italy), forward

2. Chicago (from New York) – LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas, forward

3. Charlotte – Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, forward

4. Portland – Tyrus Thomas, LSU, forward

5. Atlanta – Shelden Williams, Duke, forward

6. Minnesota – Brandon Roy, Washington, guard

7. Boston – Randy Foye, Villanova, guard

8. Houston – Rudy Gay, UConn, forward

9. Golden State – Patrick O’Bryant, Bradley, center

10. Seattle – Saer Sene, Verviers-Pepinster (Belgium), forward

History of number one picks in the NBA Draft:

2006 Andrea Bargnani, Benetton (Italy) – Toronto

2005 Andrew Bogut, Utah – Milwaukee

2004 Dwight Howard, SW Atlanta Christian Aca. – Orlando

2003 LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS (Ohio) – Cleveland

2002 Yao Ming, China – Houston

2001 Kwame Brown, Glynn Academy (Ga.) – Washington

2000 Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati – New Jersey

1999 Elton Brand, Duke – Chicago

1998 Michael Olowokandi, Pacific – L.A. Clippers

1997 Tim Duncan, Wake Forest – San Antonio

1996 Allen Iverson, Georgetown – Philadelphia

1995 Joe Smith, Maryland – Golden State

1994 Glenn Robinson, Purdue – Milwaukee

1993 Chris Webber, Michigan – Orlando

1992 Shaquille O’Neal, Louisiana State – Orlando

1991 Larry Johnson UNLV – Charlotte

1990 Derrick Coleman, Syracuse – New Jersey

1989 Pervis Ellison, Louisville – Sacramento

1988 Danny Manning, Kansas – LA Clippers

1987 David Robinson, Navy – San Antonio

1986 Brad Daugherty, North Carolina – Cleveland

1985 Patrick Ewing, Georgetown – New York

1984 Akeem Olajuwon, Houston – Houston

1983 Ralph Sampson, Virginia – Houston

1982 James Worthy, North Carolina – LA Lakers

1981 Mark Aguirre, DePaul – Dallas

1980 Joe Barry Carroll, Purdue – Golden State

1979 Earvin Johnson, Michigan State – LA Lakers

1978 Mychal Thompson, Minnesota – Portland

1977 Kent Benson, Indiana – Milwaukee

1976 John Lucas, Maryland – Houston

1975 David Thompson, North Carolina State – Atlanta

1974 Bill Walton, UCLA – Portland

1973 Doug Collins, Illinois State – Philadelphia

1972 LaRue Martin, Loyola (Ill.) – Portland

1971 Austin Carr, Notre Dame – Cleveland

1970 Bob Lanier, St. Bonaventure – Detroit

1969 Lew Alcindor, UCLA – Milwaukee

1968 Elvin Hayes, Houston – San Diego

1967 Jimmy Walker, Providence – Detroit

1966 Cazzie Russell, Michigan – New York

1965 Fred Hetzel, Davidson – San Francisco

1964 Jim Barnes, Texas Western – New York

1963 Art Heyman, Duke – New York

1962 Bill McGill, Utah – Chicago

1961 Walt Bellamy, Indiana – Chicago

1960 Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati – Cincinnati

1959 Bob Boozer, Kansas State – Cincinnati

1958 Elgin Baylor, Seattle – Minneapolis

1957 Rod Hundley, West Virginia – Cincinnati