Ibaka Making Impact for Spain

The Spanish National Team will be facing off against Team USA in its final exhibition game on August 24 before the Olympics begin, and there will be familiar faces on both sides for Thunder fans. While Thunder players Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden have been prominently displayed as important cogs on the American team, across the pond Thunder forward Serge Ibaka has been making big contributions for Spain in the build-up to the Olympics. In his third NBA season, the former first round draft pick averaged 9.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and a league-leading 3.7 blocks, and has continued his solid run of play this summer. On Thursday, he chipped in ten points and nine rebounds in an 81-75 victory over Australia, helping Spain reach the 6-0 mark in its exhibition contests. Ibaka has been effective throughout July, scoring 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting in a 78-74 win against Great Britain while notching four points, grabbing three rebounds and blocking three shots in an 81-65 victory over France and putting together a 13-point, seven-rebound and three block effort in a 95-56 win against Tunisia. More recently, the 6-foot-10 power forward had a remarkable 16-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 75-70 win against France and five points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a 75-69 victory over Australia. In all, Ibaka, a naturalized Spanish citizen, is averaging 10.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks during the six exhibition games. Box score- Spain 81, Australia 75