Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka is used to being the unheralded piece on a title contender. He was the third option for the Oklahoma City Thunder teams that were driven by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and he became more of a role player for the Toronto Raptors as Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry propelled them to the first NBA title in franchise history.
Having experienced championship glory, however, the 10-year veteran is hungry for more:
What's changed for Serge Ibaka now that he's an NBA champion. "Nothing. I want more." Says he knows what it takes now, how hard you want to work.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) September 28, 2019
Ibaka celebrated his first championship by taking the Larry O'Brien Trophy to his native Congo in the offseason, and he has been vocal about how much the experience has meant to him on a personal level.
The 30-year-old was actually one of Toronto's most productive players during the regular season. Ibaka averaged 15.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 74 games. However, his role would change during the playoffs.
After averaging over 27 minutes per game during the regular season, Ibaka averaged just 20 minutes per night in 24 postseason games, and he was entrenched as a key member of the bench unit.
Still, Ibaka made his presence felt, averaging 9.4 points, 6.0 boards and a block. He was absolutely instrumental during the NBA Finals, averaging 16.7 points during the final three games of the series and racking up six blocks in a crucial Game 3 victory.
Expect Ibaka to have a high usage rate this season. The Raptors no longer have Kawhi Leonard, and most of their improvement will be dependent on the growth of layers like Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby.
However, Ibaka's veteran presence will be critical towards Toronto's success.
Follow Us
Subscribe