Serge Ibaka addressed the media representatives regarding his arrival at Bayern and also revealed a special reason that helped in his decision.
Of great significance for his arrival was Pablo Laso, who is also a new addition to the Bayern team for the upcoming season. Andrea Trinchieri left the Munich squad, and the addition from the NBA is there to further assist in achieving the set goals.
“I am in great physical shape; the only thing I miss is team basketball and games. It will take me some time to adapt to the style of play and new teammates, but that’s normal and will come with time. I am a winner, and I love to compete; that’s why I’m here. I don’t want to sit on the bench because I feel there’s still basketball in me. If that weren’t the case, I would have retired.
I’m here to be an example and a true professional on and off the court for all the young players and teammates. It’s a privilege to join a club with a rich history like Bayern” – said Serge Ibaka.
Pablo Laso
“Pablo Laso is a fantastic coach and a great person. That’s the most important thing. I am at a point in my career where it’s essential for me to collaborate with good people. At the end of the day, basketball is still a game. What matters to me is that if I’m spending time with someone working hard, it’s with a good person. Pablo describes that best.
Regarding coaching, I like his style. Of course, I took some time to think about it, but when it comes to him as a coach and how he leads teams, there was no doubt”.
“Every time I step on the court, I’m here to give my maximum and do my best, whether it’s in the German championship, EuroLeague, or the NBA. There’s a lot of potential in this team, and I believe in this roster. It’s a great group of guys, as I mentioned, it will take some time. On paper, everything looks good, but we’ll see when we hit the court to prove it” – concluded Serge Ibaka.
The Spanish international wore the Milwaukee Bucks’ jersey last year but was traded to the Indiana Pacers, who released him just three days later. Ibaka averaged 4.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in only 16 games played last season.
The experienced 33-year-old is an NBA champion. He won the title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 when his team defeated the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.