HoopsHype.com Rumors

Darnell Mayberry: Ibaka: "I didn't have time this summer because of the (Spanish) national team. But next year, I really, really would like to work with him." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka, Hakeem Olajuwon, Training Camp 

Royce Young: Sam Presti talking about his first meeting with Serge Ibaka: "He couldn't really speak English ... He spoke to me through his eyes." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, Serge Ibaka 

After the Olympics, some reports said you were unhappy with the National Team and you were thinking about not coming back. Serge Ibaka: It's false, totally false. How could I not want to come back if I was the one who wanted to play with Spain in the first place? I don't want to leave the National Team, I've always said and I will always say that I am and I will be very proud, from the bottom of my heart, about being able to play and represent Spain. Marca.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain, Serge Ibaka 

Were you upset about your role on the team? Ibaka: The most important thing is winning. You can't always play well and when you don't play well or you don't have a good game, you're very upset with yourself, not with your teammates. I've had a great time with them. They respect me because of my work, because of how hard I work and my effort. I feel proud about that. This is a National Team, it's quite different to a club. Here you're two months together and the relationship is good with everyone. They have helped from Day 1. Marca.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain, Serge Ibaka 

Luis Fernando Lopez: Ibaka tells Marca "it's totally false" that he thought about quitting the National Team following the Olympics. It's totally true that the day before the final he said he wouldn't return if Scariolo continued (as head coach). Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain, Serge Ibaka 

Serge Ibaka: "I don't want to leave the National Team, I will play with Spain if they ask me to. I feel very proud about playing with Spain." Marca.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain, Serge Ibaka 

Gasol talked to The Times recently from the African nation of Chad, where he’s centering his immediate focus working as a UNICEF ambassador this week in Sahel region. Nonetheless, Gasol remained concerned enough about the Olympic future of a key teammate. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka indicated to Spanish reporters that he was unhappy about his limited role in London and added that he may not even play in the 2016 Games. “We hope Serge can be part of the national team for many years,” said Gasol, who averaged a team-leading 19.1 points per game on 57% shooting. “He brings so many special unique set of skills to the table.” Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol, Spain, Olympics, Serge Ibaka 

Gasol conceded he hasn’t spoken with Ibaka since the Olympics about his reduced role. But he believes Ibaka needed to better understand the team dynamic. “We were very talented and we were very deep. There’s so many other great players,” Gasol said. “Some days you’ll play a little more. Some days you’ll play better. Some days you won’t. But at the end of the day, what matters is the team success. … He’s only 22 or 23. He has many years ahead of him. It’s good he has a desire and hunger. But he needs to understand the facts and circumstances of the moment and the needs long-term.” Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol, Spain, Olympics, Serge Ibaka 

Ibaka recently signed a four-year, $65-million extension with Oklahoma City, but it remains unclear whether that would soften his frustration with the Spanish national team. Still, Gasol hopes Ibaka’s realizes his role may expand in 2016 for a simple reason. “I’m not going to play forever,” Gasol said. “Marc is not going to play forever.” Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol, Spain, Marc Gasol, Olympics, Serge Ibaka 

Serge Ibaka: Great summer for me. Very happy to be a part of the Spanish team for the second year in a row. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain, Serge Ibaka 

Does Ibaka deserve his new contract? James Harden: Sure. He's one of the best defensive players in the NBA and a great teammate. He's trying hard to improve his game. Marca.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden, Serge Ibaka 

His contract could leave the Thunder with no money to re-sign you... James Harden: I don't know. I can't make that decision. I only focus on playing. I want to keep playing with the Thunder. I feel like home and the team is special: my teammates are like my family. We can do big things. We'll see what happens. Marca.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden, Serge Ibaka 

Ibaka's anger was public and a secret during the Olympic Games. After every practice, while the rest of the players shared coffee or fruit, the Thunder forward kept all the distance possible. The day before the final, for example, he waited all by himself in the bus for half an hour, with an angry look. ElMundo.es

Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain, Olympics, Serge Ibaka 

Serge Ibaka felt underutilized, his status questioned. "If things keep going this way, I'm not coming back [to the Spanish national team]," Ibaka told close friends before the final against United States. ElMundo.es

Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain, Olympics, Serge Ibaka 

On what he saw from his Thunder teammates, Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka, this summer: I know James and Russ sacrificed a lot, and also Serge sacrificed a lot for the betterment of the team. You like to see that in guys, main pieces to a good team. Serge came out and did his role really well, played hard for Spain. James didn’t play as much as he would like to, but when he did, he made an impact. He was also a great teammate when he wasn’t in the game. Russ was playing out of position but still going out there and playing as hard as he could. So those guys did a great job and they got better throughout the summer. I’m looking forward to having them in OKC this season. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, USA Basketball, James Harden, Spain, Russell Westbrook, Olympics, Serge Ibaka 

Serge Ibaka's new deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder is for $49 million guaranteed and could go up to $51.5 million if certain individual and team goals are met, HoopsHype has learned. Ibaka will make at least $12.25 million each of the four years of his contract. HoopsHype

Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka 

Multiple sources have confirmed Serge Ibaka’s four-year extension with the Thunder could total $51.5 million with incentives. Ibaka’s base salary is $49 million for the deal that begins in the 2013-14 season, with an additional $2.5 million in potential bonuses for achievements believed to include NBA Defensive Player of the Year and remaining a member of the league’s All-Defensive first team. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka 

To know that Serge [Ibaka] just re-signed, how reassuring is that? Kevin Durant: It's a really big deal. I'm happy for him, first of all, him and his family. He worked so hard to get that [extension] and I'm just excited that he's signed on for four more years and really believes in us. He easily could have said no, waited for next summer, played well this year and got more [money]. But he sacrificed for us and we appreciate him for that. He's the ultimate team player. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka 

Kevin Durant on Serge Ibaka: “I’m happy for him. He deserves every penny. He worked his way up. He was unknown coming into the league. A lot of people didn’t really know what he could do on the court. He showed everybody from Day One that he could play and I’m just excited he’s here in Oklahoma City for four more years.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka 

Serge Ibaka's new deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder is for $49 million guaranteed and could go up to $51.5 million if certain individual and team goals are met, HoopsHype has learned. Ibaka will make at least $12.25 million each of the four years of his contract. HoopsHype

Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka