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TORONTO -- The Toronto Raptors hired Maurizio Gherardini, who built one of the most successful professional basketball teams in Europe, as the club's vice president and assistant general manager Thursday.
The Italian Gherardini becomes the first European to hold a senior management position with an NBA franchise.

"We are thrilled to have a globally esteemed basketball executive like Maurizio Gherardini join the Toronto Raptors," Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo said in a statement. "This is a ground breaking move for the league, appropriately with the NBA's only true international franchise."

And next week, the Raptors might select one of his Benetton Treviso players with the first pick in the draft.


Andrea Bargnani led Gherardini's former team Benetton Treviso to the Italian Lega A championship earlier this week. The six-foot-11 star forward is expected to be among the first few names picked in next Wednesday's NBA draft.

"We have enjoyed an unbelievable season, we just won the championship two nights ago and Andrea Bargnani of course was a key element for such a success," Gherardini said . "I know pretty much the kind of player and the kind of person he is.

"On the other hand, right now the question is the best decision the Raptors can make in the draft coming up."

Gherardini built Benetton Treviso into one of the most recognizable basketball organizations outside the NBA.

The 51-year-old led Benetton to four league championships, seven Italian Cups, three Italian supercups, two Eurocups and four appearances in the Euroleague's final four.

Gherardini joined Benetton in 1992, and under his guidance, the club's become a training ground in Europe and a destination for NBA personnel to scout players.

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NBA is turning into European basketball as if you come close to touching someone they call a foul. How many free throws did Duane Wade and Dirk shoot in the playoffs - close to a thousand?