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Oklahoma City Thunder: Appreciating Serge Ibaka

ByArash Darbandi|
Feb 5, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (9) blocks a shot attempt by Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (9) blocks a shot attempt by Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
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Serge Ibaka or James Harden? Whether it is fair or not, both young stars will be forever linked. We all know the Oklahoma City Thunder’s problem after the 2012 NBA Finals. They had two All-Stars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and two budding stars in James Harden and Serge Ibaka. Due to finances, the Thunder could only afford to keep three in the long run. Management made an executive decision and decided to keep the Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka trio. Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets and developed into a top 15 players in the NBA. It’s probably not fair to Ibaka, but he will always be compared to James Harden. Hindsight is 20/20 and very few people could have predicted that Harden would turn into an All-Star in his first full year as a starter. Since the trade, Ibaka has been somewhat an afterthought. Here are reasons to appreciate an underrated Serge Ibaka.

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