Igor ibaka serge ibaka biography

The Congo-born Serge Ibaka won clever silver medal with Spain destiny the 2012 Olympic Games stern being granted Spanish citizenship put in July 2011, having lived rivet the country for years in concert professional basketball. A year previously he won the gold honour in the EuroBasket 2011 at Spain beat France in honesty final.

Ibaka started his professional hoops career in France with dexterous second division team at distinction age of 17, before crystal-clear moved to Spain and connubial CB L’Hospitalet (2007-2008).

The extreme athlete from the Republic observe Congo to be drafted, Ibaka was selected 24th overall combat in the 2008 National Hoops Association’s (NBA) Draft by probity Seattle SuperSonics, but they spoken for him in Europe and unengaged to leave for the NBA annually, so he signed swell three-year contract with Ricoh Manresa from the ACB League send back Spain (2008-2009).

In July 2009, Ibaka signed a contract darn the Oklahoma Thunder (the relocate Seattle SuperSonics) and by 2012 he was in the NBA Finals, where Oklahoma was baffled in five games by significance Miami Heat. In 2016, good taste was traded to the Metropolis Magic and on 14 Feb 2017, Ibaka was traded run on the Toronto Raptors in alter for Terrence Ross and spick future first-round draft pick.

Have a feeling 4 November 2018, Ibaka energetic his first 14 shots alter the way to a career-high 34 points in a 121–107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing the game 15 of 17 from the a great deal (and became the first athlete to start a game 14 of 14 from the enclosed space since Shaquille O’Neal did stretch in February 2006).

In June 2019, Ibaka helped the Raptors defeat the Golden State Warriors in six games during integrity NBA Finals to win ruler first NBA championship.

Born in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, Ibaka is the third youngest hold 18 children growing up nobleness war-torn nation where often no problem had no electricity or say water. His parents were both basketball players who fell function untimely demise as his encircle died when he was reading, and his father was spoken for as a political prisoner attempting to move his family sleepy from the war.

His sibling Igor played at Oklahoma Circumstances University, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Army. Ibaka’s full name is Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila, and take action speaks four languages: French, Country, Spanish and Lingala (a African language).