It took less than a week for Primoz Brezec to become a media darling and fan favourite in Toronto due to his outlandish sound bites and the passion in which he plays the game. How many players in the NBA run down the court with their index finger in the air after scoring? How many players can call their head coach a "gangster" and have it seen as a sign of endearment? Not many - but Brezec has been able to pull this off so far during his short time in Toronto.

"Sam's gangster," Brezec recently told a throng of media gathered around his locker. "As I told you, I just respect the coach and (the fact) they're not scared. They trust in their players and they don't take no (stuff) from nobody. If I do something wrong I don't have any problem with them cussing me out. If I do something wrong tell me straight to my face. That's what he'll do."

When Sam Mitchell was asked to respond to a player calling him "gangster" the normally standoffish head coach had a hard time holding back laughter.

"Rasho (Nesterovic) told me that when Primoz's first came to the United States he learned his English, I don't know the words, but let's just say everything starts with gangster and ends with pimp. I don't know who he was around or what movies he was watching  –  and I don't even think my name is coach or Sam anymore, it's either gangster or –  I'm just going to say gangster because I'm not going to use the last part."

Besides his creative use of the English language, Brezec has quickly become a crowd favourite and Raptors fans have always fallen in love with role players like former Raptors Matt Bonner or Jerome Williams, because of their passion for the game. Brezec fits perfectly into this mold.

"I'm a veteran in this league," said Brezec. "I've played seven years in Indiana and Charlotte and every time I step on the court I give my best. No matter if I play one minute, two minutes I don't care, that's just me."

Another veteran player in Toronto's front court is just what Mitchell needed. The team was in desperate need for another "big" and someone to help on the glass - just the kind of role Brezec has been searching for all season after being unable to secure minutes in Charlotte or Detroit. Brezec was acquired from Detroit in a trade deadline deal which saw seldom used guard Juan Dixon granted his request to be traded.

Despite not playing heavy minutes during his breif time in Toronto one thing in particular that has grabbed the attention of fans is his way of celebrating every time he scores.

"I did that for the first time in Charlotte when I made the first basket in franchise history," Brezec responded when asked why he sticks his index finger in the air after scoring. "Since then it's just something I do."

Even though Brezec likes to have fun while on the court he acknowledges playing basketball for a living isn't all fun and games. While Brezec loves to play, sometimes the business side of basketball like being traded or dealing with a lack of minutes consumes life off the court. This season Brezec has struggled heavily for minutes and has been traded twice this season, so he knows the business side of the NBA better than anyone else right now.

"I respect Sam (Mitchell). He was in Charlotte while I was there for a little bit and he's not scared. I feel that's the most important thing in this business - you can't be scared to play your players. You have to trust players and that's how player are going to trust you.

The Raptors coaching staff in return appreciate what he brings to the team. That doesn't mean Brezec will be guaranteed minutes. Brezec's okay with that, as he understands he'll need to earn minutes.

"But you have to produce, that's how you get your playing time. In practice and in games you have to show what you can do. When I got traded (from Detroit) it gave me a chance. If I play bad I'll take it as a man, you can tell me. I'll go overseas or wherever."

Brezec won't need to resort to playing overseas for at least a few more years as he's a serviceable role player in the NBA. He is possibly only three seasons away from averaging 13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds if the playing time is there, and his enthusiasm is contagious. This alone will help provide his teammates with a much needed spark late in this regular season.

"We have to build off that," Chris Bosh recently told the media when asked what Brezec brings to the Raptors. "When a guy comes in, and he's having a lot of intensity, the rest of the team has to feed off that and to do the things that can build leads for us."

The Raptors currently cling to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference by mere percentage points and will be without Chris Bosh this week. They need any lift they can get as they hope to secure home court advantage in the playoffs.

Brezec may prove to be the perfect late season addition as he absorbs some of Bosh's minutes while also providing the team with an infusion of energy and passion.