If there's one guy on the Los Angeles Clippers who knows fashion, it's Serge Ibaka. And if you're talking to Ibaka about fashion, you better refer to it as “art.”
The Clippers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night, 128-111, thanks to a big game from Ibaka. The Congolese-Spanish big man finished with a season-high 21 points and a career-high six assists to go along with his nine rebounds and two blocked shots. After the game, Serge Ibaka met with members of the media for the third time all season and the first time since late December.
Ibaka is well-known around the NBA for his outlandish outfits, which often include hats and scarves. Despite there being no crowd, Sunday night was no different. But why does Serge Ibaka still go all-out dressing up despite there being no fans and a good portion of Los Angeles still shut down?
“I don't dress, sir,” Ibaka quickly responded. “I do art.”
“So yeah, I just love doing art, that’s one of my favorite parts of looking good because I like to create and as you’re seeing now I got my hat and I got a scarf and I just turn it into a mask at the same time. I just love to create. That’s my mindset of art. Because art is about creativity, so that’s what I’m doing right now.”
"I don't dress, sir. I do art. So yeah, I just love doing art. I like to create. I got my hat, I got my scarf, but it turns into a mask at the same time… That's the mindset of art. Art is about creativity."
Serge Ibaka when asked about how he dresses and his style. #Clippers pic.twitter.com/mSikH1HK61
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 15, 2021
I took it upon myself to ask Ibaka, who is good friends with Kawhi Leonard, whether Leonard actually takes his advice on “art.”
“Art? No!” Ibaka said. “He says, ‘I don't do art.' He says my style is more European style. I ask him, ‘What is different? What is European style?' He says, ‘Your style is European style.' So yeah, he thinks my style is more European style than just doing art.”
“He says I don’t do art. He says my style is more European style. I asked him, 'what's the European style?' He says, 'your style is European style.' He thinks my style is more European style than doing art."
Serge Ibaka on giving Kawhi Leonard art advice. #Clippers pic.twitter.com/1ebIra4gaS
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 15, 2021
Ibaka and the Clippers won their second game of the season without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. They also beat the Miami Heat a few weeks ago and lost to the Atlanta Hawks when both of their stars were out. While it only has been three total games, Ibaka says the team is able to learn the most from these opportunities.
“To know how good you are is when your best players are out,” Serge Ibaka claimed after the win. “That is how you know how good you are. I have been in situations before and the year we won with the Raptors, and Kawhi was out for some time of the season, we were playing so good. That is how we know that we are a good team. I think this is a good test for us too, especially right now. Kawhi and PG, they are out, it's a good opportunity for us to see where we are as a team.”
The next test for the Clippers comes Monday night when the Miami Heat come to town. This time, they'll have All-Star Jimmy Butler back in the lineup. Paul George will not play, but Kawhi Leonard's status has yet to be determined.
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