Toronto Raptors' Jamaal Magloire, of Toronto, holds a ball as players return to practice in Toronto on Thursday December 8 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris YoungChris Young/Reuters
The Toronto Raptors have signed Jamaal Magloire, making the veteran centre the club's first Canadian player in its 16-year history.
The club announced the signing Friday.
"It's an honour," said the six-foot-11, 33-year-old Toronto native. "I'm very privileged to have this opportunity. This doesn't happen very often. There's only 450 guys in this league and not only am I a part of it, I get an opportunity to come home.
"I'm so happy."
Magloire has played 11 seasons in the NBA, averaging 7.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 22.1 minutes in 646 regular season games with the Charlotte/New Orleans, Milwaukee, Portland, New Jersey, Dallas and Miami.
He has averaged 7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 19.8 minutes in 46 post-season games.
He was an all-star in the 2003-04 season when he started all 82 games with New Orleans, averaging 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He was one of only 11 players that season to average a double-double.
Magloire acknowledged that he became emotional after signing with his hometown team.
"I tell myself I don't want to think about the past, everything I went through to get to this point because it's very hard for me," Magloire said. "I'm happy I'm here. I'm a Toronto Raptor.
"It's always been a dream of mine and I'm looking forward to having a great year."