Toronto Raptors sign veteran centre who is well-known from famous song
The Toronto Raptors have added some depth to their roster for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
On Sunday night, ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report that the Raptors have signed centre Mo Bamba to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old has been playing for the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League, where he’s averaged 16.5 points and 12 rebounds.
Mo Bamba has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports and Greer Love tell ESPN. Bamba averaged 16.5 points and 12 rebounds in G League Salt Lake City and now brings needed size to Raptors frontcourt for his eighth NBA season. pic.twitter.com/git5ZYAlna
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2025
While the deal is for the remainder of the season, it doesn’t become fully guaranteed until Jan. 10, as reported by TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.
This will mark Bamba’s eighth season in the NBA. The 7-foot, 231-pound veteran began the 2024-25 season with the LA Clippers, before ending his season in a brief four-game stint with the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s also spent time in his NBA career with the Orlando Magic, LA Lakers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Bamba’s best season in the NBA was back in 2021-22 with the Magic, where he suited up for a career-high 71 games. He also had career highs with an average of 25.7 minutes, 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
Though Bamba’s NBA career hasn’t been one that generally garners a ton of hype, he is well known to many, thanks in large part to the 2017 hit rap song “Mo Bamba,” written by one of Bamba’s friends, Sheck Wes, and which went on to reach number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Despite some recent struggles, the Raptors have impressed this season. Through 19 games, they sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 19-14 record. They are looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season, where they lost in six games in the opening round to the 76ers.
The Raptors happen to be back in action on Monday night against Bamba’s former team, the Magic. The newest signing is expected to be available for head coach Darko Rajakovic.