Ohm Youngmisuk: Serge Ibaka is a late scratch for Clippers due to what team lists as non-covid illness. Ivica Zubac will start.
Serge Ibaka Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: C-F
Born: 09/18/89
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:240 lbs. / 108.9 kg.
Salary: $9,258,000
Born: 09/18/89
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:240 lbs. / 108.9 kg.
Salary: $9,258,000
Los Angeles Clippers‘ Nicolas Batum and Serge Ibaka have been communicating with each other in French during games to execute plays and leave their opponents… a bit confused. Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder has apparently even thought that this shouldn’t be allowed. “I think it was in Phoenix, we were in a free-throw situation and we were talking in French,” Batum said. “Jae Crowder looked at us like ‘it should be illegal to do that.”
It had began in preseason, when Batum said that he and Ibaka were talking about what they should do during a defensive play in French. They thought it’s a good idea to make it a habit once the regular season games begin. “”Every game,” Batum said. “Literally every game we did that.”
Ibaka wanted to stay with the Raptors and even coming off a career-year, the veteran understood that it might mean having to settle for a one-year deal as the club was doing everything in their power to avoid taking on commitments that would interfere with their cap space in 2021. But the Raptors’ first offer – about $12 million for the 2020-21 season – was below what he was expecting and while Toronto came up to $14 million, they were still trying to keep some powder dry to pursue Gasol. That didn’t go over well with Ibaka who, according to multiple sources, resented having to play behind the Spanish international and wasn’t going to sign on for a shared role again. Ibaka quickly pivoted to the Los Angeles Clippers and their two-year deal for $19 million.
“I mean s—, it’s hard to breathe in that mask,” Leonard said. “You know they start calling me ‘Leatherface’ and stuff.” “But Serge can’t talk too much,” Leonard added of his good friend Ibaka, who also played with Leonard in Toronto. “We got him on the trading block right now, so whoever wants him, let us know. We’re trying to trade Serge.”
Ohm Youngmisuk: Serge Ibaka said Clippers were growing more comfortable with the offense prior to Sunday. He doesn’t think offense will be a problem. He’s more focused on the defense and team understanding they need it. Ibaka says he’s “comfortable where we are and what direction we’re going”
A bloodied Kawhi Leonard was forced from the LA Clippers’ game at the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter Friday night after a collision with a teammate left him needing eight stitches to treat a mouth laceration. Serge Ibaka was going up for a defensive rebound when his elbow collided with Leonard’s face, immediately sending the All-Star forward to the floor. Leonard bled profusely from his mouth as he was treated on the court, before being helped back to the locker room with 6:07 left in the game.
