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Serge Ibaka readying for fresh start

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 27, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) at Target Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) at Target Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Serge Ibaka has taken the news of his trade very positively. He said he is excited about the opportunity for a fresh start as he prepares for the season.

Serge Ibaka is perhaps the biggest name acquisition for the Orlando Magic in this summer of change. The trade that brought him to Orlando, sending out Victor Oladipo is still steeped in controversy and some debate among fans.

Ibaka though will have a whole new batch of pressure put on him and expectations for him to perform at an elite level for a team hungry for a postseason berth.

Ibaka has seen a decline in his play in recent years as the Thunder have became more focused on Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, injuries knocked Ibaka out of the lineup more and Steven Adams emerged as a stalwart defensively at center. He is looking very much to refresh things this season with a new team.

That is precisely how Ibaka sees the opportunity with Orlando. It is a chance for a fresh start. A chance to change things up and reset the battery some.

And that makes him very excited.

Ibaka spoke with Zach Frydenlund of COMPLEX Sports about what he has been up to this summer and what he is looking forward to in his first year with the Magic. He spoke about his excitement for something new this season:

"“It feels great, man,” Ibaka said. “In my mind, this almost feels like my first rookie year. I’m fresh and sometimes change is just good for you. I’m excited, been working out really hard for the upcoming season. We have a young team with a bright future and I want to bring what I learned the seven years in Oklahoma City and make the team better.”"

Ibaka is looking to bounce back for sure. He averaged 12.6 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. All were four-year lows and far off his career marks when he is a shoo-in for the All Defensive teams. That does not seem to be the case anymore. He still posted an impressive 3.0 defensive win shares last year and is a positive defensive player. But perhaps not as transformative as he once was.

Why this happened is still a matter for some debate.

Ibaka slowly moved further away from the basket offensively and defensively as the league got smaller at the 4. Injuries hurt him much more than anyone has probably let on — although he has played fewer than 70 games in just one season in his career.

The Magic are hoping they get a refreshed and energized Ibaka, truly excited to join a new team and get a fresh start. Coach Frank Vogel seems very excited for the possibilities of having Ibaka as a rim protector. He has the potential to change the way the Magic play defense in numerous ways.

Ibaka has had a busy summer for sure.

He arrived in Orlando shortly after the Draft to meet the media and has certainly begun moving to Central Florida. Ibaka decided to skip playing for Spain at the Olympics — his playing time for Spain has been limited with Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol (who missed the Olympics with an injury) manning the paint — but still has been a world traveler.

Ibaka returned to his native Republic of the Congo to host his annual Serge Ibaka Dreams Academy. It is a local basketball camp he hosts for children in the area and a way for him to show them a role model for what they can achieve. He detailed the program with COMPLEX Sports:

"Just to be out there and showing people from Congo that no matter what I never forget where I come from. I want to try and share my blessings with them. Just to be there and make them dream. Make them dream big because I remember when I was young, I didn’t have those types of inspirations. When I was young, I never heard of anyone doing this, a pro basketball player coming back home and going to the orphanage and giving back. I’m the first person doing that and I feel like for those young kids, just seeing me out there it’s like wow to them and that’s what I want. I want them to see that, I want them to believe. I want them to know that I came from where they are and am no different. I didn’t grow up in the States, I was born here like you, I grew up here like you."

Ibaka said he hopes he can expand the program throughout Africa. It could end up being a similar program to the Basketball Without Borders trip Bismack Biyombo will be taking to Angola next week.

Ibaka lamented the lack of news coverage of issues throughout the Republic of the Congo and throughout Africa. He is hoping his presence there can help future generations become leaders and causes for good in their communities.

He certainly has not forgotten where he came form even though his basketball career took him to Spain at an early age and eventually to the United States.

Ibaka is back in Orlando though. Evan Fournier shared a SnapChat of the two working out together earlier this week.

Next: Orlando Magic put pressure on its new coach again

He is readying for a new beginning now with training camp about a month away.