NBA Special: Last year's triumphant rookies reverse roles - Part III
Serge Ibaka
The talented Serge Ibaka is a 6 feet 10 inch tall Congolese basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunders of the NBA. After entering NBA, Ibaka worked hard and successfully managed to become a regular player in the Oklahoma rotation.
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 was at the top of all rookies in terms of blocks average in the 2009-10 season. In addition to that, he ranked number
20th among all rookies.
In just 86 career games, Ibaka has transformed himself from a mystery draft pick to a spot starter for the Thunder. Ibaka’s most eye-catching achievement is that on January 6, he was short-listed to perform in the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at Staples Center.
The 21-year old Serge Ibaka did all he could, as he scored 15 points in Oklahoma’s 126-96 win over the visiting Sacramento Kings on February 15, 2011. Ibaka also had four blocked shots against the Kings. He now has at least one block in 26 straight games,
the longest such streak in the NBA.
The Thunders’s power-forward has been averaging 6.2 points, 2.0 blocks, and 6.7 boards in his last 10 games.
Brandon Jennings
The 21-year old, Brandon Jennings is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks. Jennings was a highly recommended high school player, averaging 32.7 points and 7.4 assists as a senior. In addition, he won all major players of the
year awards in his senior year.
One can hardly forget Brandon’s 55-point outburst, in leading Milwaukee to a thrilling 129-125 victory over the Golden State Warriors on November 2009. With this great achievement, he became the youngest player in NBA history to do so.
Jennings recorded his first ever triple double, with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Charlotte Bobcats on October 30, 2010.
Standing 6 feet, 1 inch tall Jennings is all set for the upcoming Rookies challenge as he is averaging 15.4 points, 0.3 blocks, 2.2 turnovers, and 4.9 assists per game during 2010-11 season.
Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews is a 24-year-old American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers. Wesley is the son of former NBA player Wes Matthews.
The Blazers point-guard Matthews chose to attend Marquette University, where he had an attractive college basketball career. He was crowned as “Mr. Basketball” in 2005 for the state of Wisconsin.
The 6-foot 5-inch Matthews added 26 points and hauled in seven rebounds as the Trail Blazers downed the visiting Detroit Pistons 105-100 on February 13, 2011. He went 7 for 11 from the field, including 4 for 5 from downtown. Other than that, he contributed
five assists, a steal, a blocked shot and converted all eight of his free throws.
Matthews scored his career-high 36 points as Portland rolled to a 108-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 2011.
Wesley is averaging 16.2 points with 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals over his last five games of the current season. He is shooting 45 percent from the floor over that span and 50 percent from beyond the arc.
Tags: