Former Oklahoma City Thunder Serge Ibaka Finds New Team in Germany

One of the Oklahoma City Thunder's best players in the organization's 15 year tenure, Serge Ibaka, has found a new home outside of the NBA.

The former NBA center signed with Bayern Munich, one of the most notable organizations in Germany basketball.

Ibaka was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in 2008 just before the switch to Oklahoma City was made, but didn't play in the NBA until 2009 because of fulfillments for his Spanish team.

It would take a few seasons for Ibaka to fully develop into a starting caliber power forward in the NBA, but by the time Oklahoma City's 2012 Finals run came around, he was ready.

Until the Thunder traded Ibaka during the 2016 NBA Draft, he was an incredibly important piece for Thunder teams that contented for championships. The forward was elite defensively, racking up three consecutive All-Defensive Team Selections from 2012 to 2014.

Ibaka was so important to the Thunder's success that the team prioritized extending his contract over James Harden. While looking back it may not have been the smartest move, the forward's role and skillset was more of a need at the time and going forward.

Following his Thunder tenure, Ibaka really found his footing with the Toronto Raptors, helping the organization win the NBA Championship in 2019. He was one of the most important pieces for Toronto, making an incredible 4/5 rotation alongside Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam.

The rest of Ibaka's NBA career up to this point went downhill rather quickly, in part because of injuries and being unable to find another team that he fit in with. If this is the end for Ibaka in the NBA, it was still a successful career.

Through his play in Germany it could open doors back up to the NBA, especially since the forward is still just 33 years old.

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