A few hundred feet away from his teammates, with a team doctor by his side, laying on top of the trainer’s table was not where Serge Ibaka wanted to be as the 2014-15 campaign ended. Unfortunately, like a number of his Thunder teammates, Ibaka’s year was in part impacted by an injury.
The Thunder’s long, athletic rim protector and shot-maker missed the final 18 games of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to address soreness as the team barely missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker.
Less than three months after surgery, however, Ibaka was on a basketball court in Oklahoma City again. This time, he was giving back to local Oklahoma City children at a Thunder Youth Basketball Camp, where he played defense and participated in drills with the campers. His rehab work continues as the ever-training power forward stays in shape and re-strengthens his right leg so that he can be back at full force once training camp rolls around.
“I’m feeling better every day,” Ibaka said. “I’m still working out, getting better every day and doing the rehab. I’m doing well.”
Part of Ibaka’s time in Oklahoma City has been spent with the new man at the helm of the team, Billy Donovan. While the strategies on the floor and what the rest of the coaching staff will look like is still not finalized, Ibaka had the chance to get to know the man who will be leading practices, shootarounds and the huddles in games.
Game plans, rotations and minutes will be determined as the summer and fall progress and Donovan gets an opportunity to work with the entire roster together, but Ibaka and his teammates are on board to do whatever necessary to generate victories.
“I got a chance to talk with (Donovan),” Ibaka said. “He’s a good guy. He’s smart. I’m going to support him like the organization and all the players.”
“We have to do whatever it takes for what is best for the team,” Ibaka continued. “We have to support that.”
After conversing with Donovan and spending time around teammates and staff at the INTEGRIS Thunder Development Center, Ibaka has gotten even more re-energized about the prospect of next season starting up. Ibaka averaged 14.3 points per game, shot 37.6 percent from three-point range and 83.6 percent from the free throw line while grabbing 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.
By experiencing the game without Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on his side for the first time was a learning opportunity that Ibaka can carry forward.
With a fully healthy squad in place, Ibaka will have playmakers on the floor in Durant and Westbrook along with other finishers like Anthony Morrow on the perimeter to help space the floor and free him up for jump shots or dives to the rim.
As the anchor of the Thunder’s defense, Ibaka will also be an integral component to the way the team gets stops on a possession-by-possession basis next season. His ability to make up for mistakes and cover space in the heart of the paint can force opponents into difficult, contested shots, but it will be how he fits into the five-man defensive scheme that will determine the team’s success.
“We are (excited) and that’s normal,” Ibaka explained. “After everything that happened to us last year, we’re so excited, ready and hungry for next season… The only thing we can control is to get our minds ready and prepare ourselves for next season.”
After his camp visit, Ibaka was set to spend the night in Oklahoma City before taking off for a long tour through Europe and Africa to see friends and family, in addition to working with his foundation.
The Son of the Congo will be heading back to his hometown to follow up on some of his charitable initiatives, but also listed off France, Spain, Ghana and South Africa as destinations he plans to visit over the next few months before he returns to Oklahoma City to work with his teammates and the Thunder coaching staff.
Until then, Ibaka sees the summer as the part of the calendar to stay in shape and advance his philanthropic efforts.
“I do a lot of different projects,” Ibaka explained. “In Africa, sometimes it’s hard. When you’re not there, it’s hard for people to do the things the way that you want. I want to make sure that everything I tried to do and everything I have them working on is going the right way for the kids. That’s the key.”
“It’s the only time I can do it, so for sure it’s fun,” Ibaka said of going back home to the Congo. “After that, I come back to Oklahoma, stay focused and get ready for next season.”