In Kawhi Leonard's visit to Scotiabank Arena this week as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, Serge Ibaka reflected on Kawhi's iconic shot for the Toronto Raptors in last season's playoffs.
Ibaka won the NBA title with the Raptors in the 2018-19 season — the first title in franchise history. However, things could have been different for the team had the Congolese forward committed an offensive interference on Kawhi's “the shot” during the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
To recall, Leonard pulled off a baseline step-back jumper that bounced in, sealing the Raptors' series victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.




Ibaka jokes that he would have “retired” if he messed up and interfered with the shot going in. However, the former Oklahoma City Thunder forward stayed away from the made field goal, which sent the Raptors on a collision course with the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference finals.
After losing the first two games of the East Finals, Toronto rallied back and won the next four contests.
Leonard, Ibaka and the Raptors, coached by Nick Nurse, defeated the dynastic Golden State Warriors in a six-game series in the NBA Finals to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
After a turn as the league's premier shot-blocker, Ibaka has shifted his role on the Raptors, becoming a force off the bench for Nurse's reigning champion team.