28 Facts About Leo Rautins

Leo Rautins has been a broadcaster for the Toronto Raptors since the team's inception in 1995.

Leo Rautins was a star in high school for Toronto's St Michael's College School.

Leo Rautins would be a member of the team until 1992.

Leo Rautins completed his national team playing career as Canada was eliminated in the 1992 Tournament of the Americas, the basketball qualifying tournament for the Barcelona Olympics.

Leo Rautins attended the University of Minnesota for his freshman year of college, and Syracuse University for three seasons.

At Minnesota, Leo Rautins was named first-team All-Big Ten rookie, averaging 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists a game.

Leo Rautins left Minnesota for multiple reasons: at Minnesota, he was not required to attend classes, and at Syracuse he would have the opportunity to be the top player.

Leo Rautins is the first player ever to record a triple-double in Big East play, accomplishing the feat twice in the span of a month during his senior year.

Leo Rautins was named All-Big East third team and Honorable Mention All-American that year.

In 1983, Leo Rautins became the second Canadian ever drafted in the first round of the 1983 NBA draft.

The Leo Rautins was selected 17th overall to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1983 Draft, considered an excellent passer.

Unknown to Leo Rautins, he reported to training camp with torn ligaments in his foot which was not treated properly and deteriorated during the season.

Leo Rautins played only four games for the Hawks, averaging a mere three minutes a contest and was waived in November 1984.

Leo Rautins tried out for other NBA teams and the Continental Basketball Association but was unable to find a spot with another team.

Leo Rautins then left the NBA, returned to Syracuse and did radio and television work.

Leo Rautins was a commentator for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation at the 1984 Olympics.

In 1985, Leo Rautins returned to playing basketball, moving to Europe.

Leo Rautins played in Italy for Serie A1 team Banco Roma and Serie A2 team Citrosil Verona, in France with Pau Orthez, and in Spain.

In 1997, Leo Rautins was inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame.

In 2000, Leo Rautins was inducted into the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame.

In February 2005, Leo Rautins was named head coach of the Canadian National Team.

Leo Rautins resigned from that position in September 2011, after Canada lost to Panama in the FIBA Americas Tournament.

In 2014, Leo Rautins became involved in plans to launch a new Canadian Basketball League.

Leo Rautins was named as one of the principals in a proposed Ottawa professional team after the failure of the Ottawa SkyHawks minor professional team.

Leo Rautins had been in consideration for the Commissioner position of the National Basketball League of Canada.

On October 17,2016, Leo Rautins was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.

Leo Rautins was born in Toronto, Ontario to a Latvian father and Lithuanian mother.

Leo Rautins's parents met in a prison camp, from which they escaped with the help of Dutch soldiers, before emigrating to Canada, as it was the only country that would accept them.