Greatest shot blocker in each NBA team’s history
Best shot blocker in OKC Thunder history: Serge Ibaka
Serge Ibaka came into the league extremely undeveloped. Originally, he didn’t have a jumper and had to learn how to play against the big boys of the league. But there was always something the former first-round pick brought to the table at an elite level. He could block shots like not many else.
From the moment he stepped onto the court, Ibaka could swat just about anything in his airspace, whether it was a jumper, layup or even a dunk. For a guy who stood 6-foot-10, he possessed incredible speed and hops, truly widening the range of his defensive abilities.
He always knew how to time his jumps perfectly to get the block. It didn’t matter if the opponent tried multiple fakes, Serge wouldn’t bite until the actual shot went up.
As he started earning more playing time, Ibaka worked hard every summer to develop a consistent mid-range jumper, adding to what was already a dangerous offensive attack for the Oklahoma City Thunder by slightly improving it year after year.
The respect he commanded opened up the court for Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and turned him into a two-way threat. Ibaka even started shooting threes towards the end of his tenure, understanding where the league was heading and adapting accordingly.
Ibaka’s somewhat regressed in the shot-blocking department over the years, likely due to an increased focus towards the offensive end. When he was in his prime, there probably wasn’t a better rim protector in the NBA. He gave Oklahoma City a much-needed presence at that end, a different look from their score-first superstars, the three of whom had plenty of success during their time together.