Serge Ibaka signs for Real Madrid as NBA lockout drags on
Oklahoma City Thunder star Serge Ibaka has signed a contract with Spanish basketball powerhouse Real Madrid. The Thunder man has secured a short term deal which runs up to at least two months. More details about the contract are
not known at the moment, but it will contain a get out clause as per directions by FIBA.
Ibaka was very pleased at becoming a part of the prestigious Spanish club. He also expressed his resolve to help the side in achieving success in the future.
“I’m very proud to start being part of an historic club like Real Madrid. I’m thankful for this great opportunity as a person and as a player. I arrive with humility to try to learn from the coach and the teammates and, at the
same time, with ambition to try to help the team win as many games as possible while I’m with the team. I’m excited to get to know the team’s fans”. Ibaka said on his personal website.
The power forward was recently awarded Spanish citizenship. He had played for some years in Spain before making the move to the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ibaka also represented Spain alongside stars such as Pau Gasol
and Ricky Rubio in last month’s FIBA EuroBasket tournament. Ibaka was hailed for his solid contributions in helping Spain retain their European crown and his popularity in the country has therefore soared.
Known for his defensive prowess in the NBA, Ibaka will be joining a Real Madrid side already full of international players. Among the many stars in the side is another NBA player in the form of Dallas Mavericks man Rudy Fernandez.
Ibaka had suggested earlier that with the NBA lockout dragging on, he could consider playing overseas this season, with Spain his preferred destination. The NBA has locked out its players because of a dispute over a new Collective
Bargaining Agreement, and with NBA games already lost, many players have lost hope for a compromise and are taking similar measures.
Ibaka is not the first NBA player to sign a contract in Europe. Before him stars such as Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz and Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets have made the switch, among many others.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association meanwhile have met repeatedly to try and resolve their differences. Last week though negotiations supervised by federal mediator George Cohen failed and talks broke off indefinitely.
That has been seen by many NBA players as a signal that the season is unlikely to take place and many are now expected to follow Ibaka by signing terms with overseas teams.
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