4. Serge Ibaka
Serge Ibaka is a Congolese-Spanish professional basketball player for the ‘Milwaukee Bucks’ of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the 2006 ‘Africa Clubs Champions Cup’ the highest competition in Africa. Ibaka was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.
He became the first player from the Republic of Congo to be selected in the draft. In 2009, ‘Oklahoma City Thunder’ signed him to a two-year contract with two more optional seasons. In his first NBA season, Ibaka played 18.1 minutes per game in 73 games, averaging 6.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He is the youngest player to have 7 blocks in the playoff game. During the 2011 NBA lockout, he signed a two-month contract with ‘Real Madrid Baloncesto’.
On 19 February 2012, he recorded his first career triple-double against the ‘Denver Nuggets’ scoring 14 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and getting a career-high 11 blocks. In August 2012, Ibaka signed a four-year deal worth $48 million with the “Oklahoma City Thunder”. In 2013–14, Ibaka averaged career-highs of 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He was named to the “NBA All-Defensive First Team”.
On 23 June 2016, he was traded to the ‘Orlando Magic’. He scored a career-high 31 points and hit a game-winning baseline jumper to lead the Magic to a 119–117 win over his former team ‘Oklahoma City Thunder’. In 2017, he was traded to the ‘Toronto Raptors’. He made his debut for the Raptors against Boston Celtics. In June 2019, he helped the Raptors to win his first NBA championship.
On 5 February 2020, he hit a game-winning three-pointer to lead the Raptors to a 119-118 win over the ‘Indiana Pacers’. In 2022, he was traded to the ‘Milwaukee Bucks’.
Ibaka’s Best Game Play For Raptors During 14-Game Win Streak!.