Hoops Habit
Fansided

Oklahoma City Thunder: 25 Best Players To Play For The Thunder

By Phil Watson

May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of t-shirts lining the seats before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of t-shirts lining the seats before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
16 of 26
Next
May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9)drives to the basket as Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) defends during the first quarter in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9)drives to the basket as Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) defends during the first quarter in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

2009-16. Serge Ibaka. 11. player. 149. 24th overall pick from CL L’Hospitalet (Spain), 2008 NBA Draft.. PF

Born in the Republic of the Congo and emigrated to Spain, Serge Ibaka went to the Seattle SuperSonics in their dying days, taken 24th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft less than a week before the franchise officially moved to Oklahoma City.

Ibaka remained in Spain in 2008-09, playing for Ricoh Manresa, before the Oklahoma City Thunder bought out his contract and brought him to the U.S. in July 2009. He played briefly in Spain during the 2011 NBA lockout.

OKC_11_IBAKA
OKC_11_IBAKA /

He moved into the starting lineup midway through his second season  and was a three-time All-Defensive selection for Oklahoma City, leading the NBA in blocks in 2011-12 and 2012-13, finishing second in both 2013-14 and 2014-15 and third in 2010-11.

He was also fourth in field-goal percentage in 2012-13.

Ibaka helped the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012, where he averaged 7.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 26.3 minutes in the five-game loss to the Miami Heat, shooting .424/—/7-for-11.

Last season, Ibaka played in 78 games and averaged 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 32.1 minutes per game on .479/.326/.752 shooting.

On June 23, 2016, Ibaka was traded in a draft-night deal to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to 11th overall pick Domantas Sabonis.

In seven seasons in Oklahoma City, Ibaka averaged 11.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game, shooting .523/.355/.745.

He is 45th in NBA history with 1,300 blocked shots, 48th with a field-goal percentage of .523 and 10th with an average of 2.5 blocks per game.

Ibaka has one year remaining on the four-year extension he signed in August 2012.

Next: D.J. Was A Finals MVP

Home/Oklahoma City Thunder