Interviews
Serge Ibaka: “We Don’t Fear Anyone”
After a promising rookie season with the Thunder, Serge Ibala is working hard this summer to continue his progress. For Hoopsnotes, he shares his impressions about his first season in the NBA, and discusses his ambitions for the next one.
What do you think of your first NBA season?
From a personal standpoint, I am satisfied. I think I improved a lot. Particularly during the playoffs where I gained the confidence of coach Brooks. I ended the playoffs’ games against the Lakers. The coaches were happy with my production and my defense on Odom…
And on the collective level?
We are satisfied about this season even if it has a bitter taste in the mouth after the defeat against the Lakers. This has played on so little things…
Were you surprised that the Thunder did the playoffs?
Surprised? No. We believed in us from the start, from the training camp. We started the season great and we really hope to catch the Top 5. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of easy games we should have won. With a little more experience, we would have won them.
With hindsight, was it a good idea not to come to the Thunder after your draft and stay in Spain one more year?
I wanted to gain experience and develop my game. I was not quite ready for NBA.
You arrive in the NBA at 20… Did a Thunder player took you under his wing?
Not really. We’re all young: 20, 21, 22 years old… Even if Kevin Durant is our leader, there is no superstar. We consider ourselves more as a group of friends who want to win everything together.
What impressed you the most when you arrived in the NBA?
Travel, jet lag… We spend a lot of time on planes, hotels. On a basketball level, you play every night against the best athletes in the world. You can never let it go.
One player in particular impressed you?
Pau Gasol is the most talented big man for me. Defensively, it’s Dwight Howard. His rebounding ability, his blocks and his athleticism. In the paint, he’s really impressive!
A word about your coach Scott Brooks.
He’s a hard worker! He’s very demanding with ourselves and with himself. Outside of basketball, he is a nice guy.
What does he expect of you?
He wants me to be the energizer of the team. Someone who defends hard, takes rebounds, blocks and changes the game with my intensity.
This role suits you?
I would like to expand my game. My physical strength and my defense are qualities that I always had and that coaches appreciate. Now it remains for me to develop my game face to the basket, and to work on offensive moves.
Do you expect to have more responsibilities next season?
At the end of the season, I had more playing time so hopefully it will keep going. I am ready to accept all challenges and why not be selected for the Rookie Challenge as a sophomore.
The Thunder won’t surprise other teams anymore.
This will be a good experience for KD and Russell (Westbrook). Many teams will be wary of us this year. What is certain is that we don’t fear anyone.
[...] A Q&A with Serge Ibaka from Hoopnotes: “What do you think of your first NBA season? From a personal standpoint, I am satisfied. I think I improved a lot. Particularly during the playoffs where I gained the confidence of coach Brooks. I ended the playoffs’ games against the Lakers. The coaches were happy with my production and my defense on Odom…” Share: [...]
[...] mentioned how happy Oklahoma City’s coaches were with his play against Odom in an interview with Hoopsnotes. Ibaka did have high praise for Pau Gasol, saying flat-out: “Pau Gasol is the most talented [...]
Very thoughtful answers, you’ve just got to love Serge
[...] udanym, sezonie w NBA Serge Ibaka ciężko pracuje tego lata. Ostatnio udzielił wywiadu portalowi Hoopsnotes w którym podzielił się swoimi odczuciami na temat NBA a także zdradził swoje plany na [...]