Raptors legend Serge Ibaka was a huge piece on Toronto’s 2019 championship team.
Since his stint with the Raptors, Ibaka hasn’t been able to find his footing.
He was waived by the Indiana Pacers in February and failed to find a home in the NBA throughout the offseason.
Now, Ibaka is reportedly going to Europe to play basketball.
According to journalist Marc Mundet, the 33-year-old has signed a one-year deal with Euroleague team FC Bayern Munich in Germany.
Ibaka last played for the Milwaukee Bucks. He appeared in 16 games last season and averaged 4.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per contest.
Ibaka’s tenure with the Bucks came to an abrupt ending. Serge Ibaka was interviewed by Shams Charania in early August and citied a lack of communication as the root of the problem:
“When I go talk with the front office, they tell me different things. They love me. They want me to be there, they want me to stay. When I go back on the court, it’s different. It got to some point where I cannot take this no more.”
Ibaka will leave the NBA for now and continue his pro basketball career overseas.
Ibaka’s time with the Raptors
Ibaka’s last successful tenure in the NBA came with the Toronto Raptors.
During his four seasons in Toronto, Ibaka averaged 14.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 228 games. During the 2019 NBA playoffs, Ibaka was instrumental for the Raptors from off the bench as he averaged 9.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 24 games.
Ibaka opened up about his time in Toronto in a video on YouTube and had nothing but high praise:
“After four years, every time I come back here people still make me feel like it was yesterday. Every time when I come back here I feel like home. I think that, to me, is the most important thing.”
As Ibaka starts a new chapter of his life in Europe, it is evident that he will never forget about his time in Toronto.
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