Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka was emotional on Twitter following his team's historic championship run. He said it was a dream come true for him, and that he hopes that kids from his hometown will be inspired to do better because of what he accomplished.
A kid from Congo, becoming an NBA Champion is sureal. I was not supposed to be here but I never lost faith. This is a dream come true but also an opportunity for me to remind every kid in Congo, in Africa and everywhere that anything is possible. Thank you Toronto and Canada 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/vigq4XMPrE
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) June 14, 2019
Ibaka joined the Raptors in the midst of the 2016-17 season and he immediately became an integral part of their rotation. He became the team's most reliable rebounder and defender, and he has also been decent on offense too.
The veteran forward helped the Raptors become one of the best squads in the East. Unfortunately, they have not been able to get past the conference finals for several years, which led to heartbreak and frustrations among players and fans.
But things changed this season when the Raptors traded mainstay DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard. With the latter leading the way, Toronto finally reached the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly 25 years.
The Raptors played the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, and Ibaka made his presence felt on both ends of the floor. He averaged 11.3 points and 5.2 rebounds through six games, shooting the ball at an impressive 56 percent from the field.
Ibaka has come a long way, from being on the bad side of losing in the Finals back in 2012, he has now become a champion.
Now, the Raptors will look to defend their championship, and the team will rely on his all-around game once again.
But for now, Ibaka can savor every bit of his first championship.
Follow Us
Subscribe