Serge Ibaka ready to help Spain defend the European Championship – NBA Update
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka is heading to Europe in order to play in the European Championships, where he will represent his adopted country Spain. Ibaka said he was raring to go and looking forward to what will definitely
be a great experience.
Serge Ibaka played in Spain for three years before making the move to the United States to join up with Oklahoma City and display his talents in the NBA. The player, who was born in Congo, became a Spanish citizen this month when
paperwork finally came through and now Ibaka intends to be a positive influence on the Spanish national side.
"I have to give all my energy on the court, that's my job," the 21-year-old Ibaka said. "I will do everything I can to help the team."
Having a player of Ibaka’s talent will certainly be a big boost to the Spaniards. Serge has established himself as one of the premier defensive big men in NBA since joining up with the Thunder. The players shot blocking exploits
have even earned him the nickname “i-block-a”.
Last season was a particular high for the power forward as he formed the core of a young Oklahoma City Thunder team that went on a deep run in the NBA playoffs. That however culminated in the Western Conference Finals loss to eventual
NBA World Champions, the Dallas Mavericks.
Team Spain is a talented side as well, certainly one of the best in Europe with plenty of NBA players in their fold. Ibaka touched on the subject and praised his future teammates,
"I am excited to play with point guards Ricky (Rubio), (Jose) Calderon and (Barcelona's Victor) Sada because they make other players better, and also share the paint with Pau, Marc and (Madrid forward) Felipe (Reyes)," Ibaka said.
Ricky Rubio had been on the NBA radar for a while and will play for the Minnesota Timberwolves next season. He is viewed as a natural point guard with an eye for through passes.
In the frontcourt, Ibaka will get to hang with NBA World Champion Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers and his brother Marc Gasol, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. Pau Gasol, one of the senior most members of the Spain squad,
welcomed Ibaka’s induction into the side and praised certain qualities that the Congolese born big guy will bring to the Spain side.
"Physically, (Ibaka) is a very good player, very powerful," Gasol said. "He gives us another inside player to increase the level of competition on the team."
The European Championships are also important from the perspective that the two finalists will automatically secure berths in the 2012 London Olympics.
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