Toronto Raptors: Top 5 Centers in franchise history

4 of 5

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 13: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Raptors center No. 2: Serge Ibaka

Is it weird that Serge Ibaka has become so underrated? It feels like only yesterday that the Raptors stole him from the Orlando Magic in that trade for Terrence Ross and the pick that would one day be Anžejs Pasečniks.

Ibaka spent four seasons with the Raptors, during which he helped break the franchise season wins record twice. It’s no coincidence that he brought winning energy to Toronto. The two-time blocks champion was always more of an energy guy during his stint with the Thunder, but it was here in Toronto that he evolved into a truly skilled NBA big.

Transitioning from power forward to center was the easy part. Serge extended his shooting range a little more every year to the point where the defense has to respect him from out there. During the title run, Ibaka doubled as the lifeblood of the team alongside Kyle Lowry, as well as the Raptor most likely to punch someone in the face (something every great team must have).

Serge Ibaka was impactful on both sides for the Raptors

One might see his stat line and point to diminishing blocks per game as a sign of declining defensive ability, but one would be wrong. While his blocks per dropped from 2.5 with the Thunder to 1.3 with the Raptors, Ibaka stayed among the league leaders in defensive win shares during his time in the North.

His shot-blocking may not have been quite what it was, but it was how he’s been able to adapt to the modern game on both ends that’s even more important.

Do fans remember that he was the key addition to the “Big” lineup the Raptors ran during the 2019 title run? That he was the addition to the front line that held Giannis to his lowest series field goal percentage since his sophomore year? Or that he nailed two massive threes in that fourth quarter to keep the team in the lead in Game 7 against the 76ers?

Is anyone even aware that last season, his final one with the Raptors, despite turning 30 years old and getting moved to the bench, he averaged a career-high in points with 15.4 a game? Or that he upped his 3-point shooting to 39%?

He wasn’t blocking 4 shots a game in Toronto the way he was for the Thunder, but Serge Ibaka played quality basketball for the Raptors just like he did for OKC.

I miss him more than I thought I would.