Basketballs slammed against the backboard bouncing away at different angles into the hands of children at Thunder Youth Basketball Camp. If it hadn’t been for the instruction of Serge Ibaka, it may have looked like some kids’ shots were going awry.
In reality, the Thunder forward was teaching the campers the fine points of rebounding, a skill that can often get overlooked in the development of young players. Under the direction of Thunder Youth Basketball Coordinator Keeton Peery and his coaches, kids from all over Oklahoma have been getting tutelage at team-hosted camps, and not just with regard to shooting and scoring. On Wednesday, Ibaka helped maintain that balance in camp curriculum with a lesson on one of his strong suits – battling on the boards.
“I was teaching them rebounding,” Ibaka said. “It’s one of the most important things in basketball. When kids start playing basketball, they all think about scoring. It’s good to score, but there are some other things that are important in basketball too.”
“The most important fundamentals are to box out and grab a rebound, then when you come down, to turn and pass without traveling,” he explained.
Ibaka didn’t just coach them up, he took part in some of the drills as well, including a dribble-knockout contest that captivated the entire gym.
Parents were crowded around the courts to snap photos of their children playing basketball alongside an NBA star, waiting for the moment to capture Ibaka hi-fiving their kid.
The Thunder Youth Basketball Camps are extremely popular over the summer time, but the holiday camps provide a unique opportunity for fun, growth and experience as well.
“The fun part about holiday camp is that it’s the time of the year when basketball season is going on,” Peery said. “The kids are out of school but stuck at home because it’s cold outside, so it’s a chance for kids to come out here and play some basketball and learn some things.”
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For more information: Thunder Youth Basketball Camps
Watch: Ibaka Pays Surprise Visit to Holiday Camp