NBA Champ Claims He Can Play Even Better Without Scoring

A key player of the reigning NBA champs Toronto Raptors has claims he can play better this season without too much scoring.

Last season, the Raptors made history when Kawhi Leonard brought the championship to Canada after almost two and a half decades. Coming into next season, the Raptors will not have Leonard on their team. However, Serge Ibaka vows to step his game up to help the team now that they have lost a lethal scorer.

Ibaka had his best season in Toronto. Last season, the three-time NBA Defensive player of the year shot 58.3 per cent from two-point range — his best mark since he was 22 years old.

But what made Ibaka a notable player was his go-to move which he usually finish by dunking in transition. Undeniably, Ibaka has evolved into a more offensively efficient player. However, the most important elements of his growth are something that is not calculated and shown in the box score.

In a recent interview with Pro Sports Daily, Ibaka stated that he has improved a lot as a player. More importantly, he emphasized that he will help the Raptors in more ways than just scoring.

“I think I’m a lot better, I’m a lot better basketball player,” Ibaka says. “Not only skill-wise but understanding the game, playing as a team, helping a team, helping your teammates to get better, and then doing all the little things to help your team without scoring,” Ibaka stated.

The 30-year-old NBA champ made it clear that he knows how important scoring is. However, understanding the game and being a better teammate is something he has improved on since he became a Raptor.

“Of course, you have to score, but just understanding the game, positioning myself where it can not only be good and for my teammate. And also being a great teammate, too. Since I’ve been here, since my first year and now, I’ve been getting better and better to be a good teammate on and off the court,” Ibaka emphasized.

Raptors 905 head coach Jama Mahlalela is also convinced that Ibaka will be a key factor for the team this season. According to him, the defensive power forward has developed his game in ways that stats wouldn’t be able to measure accurately.

“If you look at Serge in his time with us he’s fundamentally changed his game in two ways. One, he’s more young in the way he actually plays the game, which seems counter-intuitive. But he (also) plays with more energy and then his skill set has totally changed,” Mahlalela noted.