The Toronto Raptors became CanadaB次元官网网址檚 team even before winning the NBA Finals, but international news headlines on Friday suggested they are now celebrated as world champions.
The team B次元官网网址� which became the first NBA franchise outside the U.S. to clinch the title B次元官网网址� is made up of players hailing from several countries including the U.S., Canada, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and Spain.
B次元官网网址 outlets took note of that diverse roster after the Toronto teamB次元官网网址檚 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
B次元官网网址淕lobalization is the star of the NBA,B次元官网网址� a headline on the Washington Post stated.
B次元官网网址淎 global NBA now has a truly global championB次元官网网址� the Associated Press declared.
Media outlets in some countries chose to highlight connections to homegrown heroes in their coverage.
Cameroon celebrated Pascal Siakam, who didnB次元官网网址檛 begin playing basketball until he was in his late teens. He has morphed into a rising star in the league despite his late start in the game.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 think I could make it,B次元官网网址� Siakam said after the game. B次元官网网址淎nd I think a lot of kids donB次元官网网址檛 think that itB次元官网网址檚 possible. Just me being able to be here today and telling them that, B次元官网网址楬ey, look at me, I was a little scrawny kid from Cameroon B次元官网网址� but here I am, as a champion.B次元官网网址�
The Journal Du Cameroun championed the champion with its headline that read, B次元官网网址淧ascal Siakam, first Cameroonian to win NBA.B次元官网网址�
In Spain, where Raptors big man Marc Gasol is from, the Catalan B次元官网网址 blared the headline B次元官网网址淐atalan brothers become first siblings to both win NBA crown,B次元官网网址� a reference to Gasol and his brother Pau who won two championship titles with the Los Angeles Lakers. The pair were born in Barcelona.
Jeremy Lin, an Asian-American born in California whose parents are Taiwanese, was front and centre for one Asian outlet.
B次元官网网址淛eremy Lin becomes the first Asian-American to win an NBA championship as Raptors take game six,B次元官网网址� blared the headline in the South China Morning Post.
Lin is also huge in Toronto, which has a thriving Chinese and Taiwanese community. Sing Tao, a Toronto news site, went big on Lin, splashing photographs of the depth-player celebrating the championship with his mother.
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Meanwhile, team president Masai Ujiri, who was born in England and raised in Nigeria, was big news back home.
B次元官网网址淓x-Nigerian basketball player becomes 1st African general manager to win NBA title,B次元官网网址� one Nigerian headline said.
Closer to Canada, Rockford, Ill., showed its pride in hometown hero Fred VanVleet by hosting its own version of the outdoor Jurassic Park fan zone that became wildly popular in Toronto. VanVleet returned the love.
B次元官网网址淩ockford, Rockford itB次元官网网址檚 for you, baby!B次元官网网址� declared the headline quoting the player in the Rockford Register Star.
Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
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