Thunder Sign Serge Ibaka to Four-year Deal
Fitzgerald Cecilio
Oklahoma City, OK
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed another key player to a long-term deal, agreeing to a four-year, $48-million extension with forward Serge Ibaka.
"We are very excited that Serge will continue as a core member of the Thunder for years to come," said Thunder general manager Sam Presti. "His passion for our organization, our community and for continuing to build on the foundation that he and his teammates have established was pivotal to making this possible.
"Serge personifies many of the traits that we value as an organization; he is a tireless and disciplined worker, an elite competitor and someone who treats his profession with the utmost focus, which in addition to his character, will all be integral to his continued improvement," he added.
Ibaka is the third key player to sign a long-term deal with the Thunder, who have already locked up superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook through the 2015-16 season.
The Thunder will hold a press conference upon Ibaka's return to Oklahoma City. He is currently hosting a youth basketball camp in his native Republic of Congo and the Basketball Without Borders initiative with Thunder teammates Cole Aldrich and Hasheem Thabeet in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In three seasons with the Thunder, Ibaka registered averages of 8.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.43 blocks in 221 games, 110 of them starts, with an average action of 24.1 minutes per contest.
During the past two seasons, the forward has blocked 439 shots which are the most in the NBA during that period.
Last season, Ibaka was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team after leading the league in blocks with 3.65 swats per contest. He blocked 10 or more shots three times and became the first player in franchise history to record a triple-double which included blocked shots after recording 14 points, 15 rebounds and 11 blocks against Denver February 19.
With Ibaka's help, the Thunder have qualified for the postseason in each of his three seasons in Oklahoma City. The 24th overall selection of the 2008 NBA Draft, Ibaka has averaged 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.86 blocks and 28.2 minutes in 43 postseason contests.
Ibaka helped Spain to a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Games in London. He averaged 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.25 blocks in 15.1 minutes per game for the Spaniards, who were defeated by the United States in the final.
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