Officially signed! Hello, model freak! Finally back in the NBA.

Welcome back to the NBA.

Insider Shams:Bamba signs a one-year contract with the Raptors. Raptors reporter Murphy mentioned that Bamba’s deal is non-guaranteed, effectively a short 12-day contract.

This guy is the famous 2K model freak, a super talented player standing 2.13 meters tall with a 2.38-meter wingspan. A 2018 first-round sixth pick, initially considered the next Howard, but unfortunately never fully realized his potential. Now at only 27 years old, he’s drifting around, which is quite sad.

From 2018 to 2025, in just seven years, Bamba has played for the Magic, Lakers, 76ers, Clippers, Pelicans, and now the Raptors. So far, he averages 16.8 minutes per regular season game with 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. In the playoffs, he averages only 3.3 minutes with no points, 1 rebound, 0.3 assists, and 0.3 blocks.

However, Bamba has had his highlights. In the 2021-22 season with the Magic, he played 71 games, starting 69, averaging 25.7 minutes, 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. This earned him a two-year $21 million extension in the summer of 2022, though his performance declined afterward.

Now bringing his talent to the Raptors might be Bamba’s last chance to prove he still belongs in the NBA; otherwise, he should consider earning overseas while still in his prime. This summer, multiple leagues reached out to him.

According to domestic media reports,a CBA club once made a huge offer to Bamba, proposing a pre-tax salary exceeding $3 million.But obviously, he was not interested.

Actually, a big center like Bamba with limited offensive skills may not cause much impact in the CBA. Foreign players who succeed here usually have strong scoring abilities, like Guangdong’s interior player Salinger (net salary $1.2 million). This season, he averages 9.7 shots per game, making 5.7 with a 58.8% shooting rate, totaling 16.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.

What else can be said? Best wishes to all persistent dream chasers.