The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday they have signed free-agent centre Bismack Biyombo (Biz- MOCK bee-OM-bo) to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "Bismack brings athleticism and interior length to our team," said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri. "He has proven to be an exceptional rim protector and his physicality will be a great asset to us defensively."

Biyombo, 6-foot-9, 245 pounds is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is one of six African-born players currently in the NBA. Biyombo has appeared in 284 NBA career regular season games, all with Charlotte, where he has averaged 4.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 21.0 minutes. He ranked eighth in the NBA in blocks (1.8) in 2011-12 and ninth (1.8) in 2012-13.

He posted a career-high 5.2 points in his rookie campaign, 7.3 rebounds in 2012-13 and shot a career-best .611 (88-144) from the field in 2013-14. He recorded a career-high 17 rebounds twice and had a personal-best seven blocks in a game on three occasions.

In 2014-15, Biyombo averaged 4.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 19.4 minutes in 64 games (21 starts). He shot .543 (101-186) from the field and ranked 17th in the NBA in blocks. In his 21 starts, he upped his averages to 6.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 26.9 minutes.

Biyombo began his professional career in Spain (2009-11). He played for the World Select Team at the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit where he recorded the lone triple-double (12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks) in the event's history. Biyombo was selected seventh overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA Draft.