toronto raptors serge ibaka

Raptors' legend Serge Ibaka is still in love with Toronto

The Toronto Raptors' 2018-19 championship-winning roster will forever be remembered as a collection of players who quickly endeared themselves to the city of Toronto — and vice versa.

And with the exception of Kyle Lowry, perhaps none were a bigger fan of the city than Serge Ibaka, who spent four seasons in Toronto before departing in 2020.

"If I come back here, people still make me feel like it was yesterday. Every time when I come back here I feel like, like you say, home," Ibaka said in a video on his YouTube channel this past week. "I think that, to me, is the most important thing. Sometimes life is more than just basketball. Of course, we have great memories [on the court], yeah, we won the championship. But at the end of the day, waking up every day to do the things I love to do is a blessing."

It's not clear what the future holds for the 33-year-old 14-year NBA veteran, who remains a free agent for next season, with the possibility of retirement always on the horizon for a league that's always getting younger and younger.

Ibaka last played an NBA game on January 1, 2023, with the Milwaukee Bucks, before being dealt to the Indiana Pacers in February after sitting out for a month. The Pacers subsequently bought out Ibaka, and he's yet to stick elsewhere in basketball since.

During his four seasons in Toronto from 2016-17 to 2019-20, Ibaka averaged 14.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 228 games for the Raptors. His most memorable moments came in the 2019 NBA playoffs, where Ibaka averaged 9.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 24 games, all of which he came off the bench for.

Lead photo by

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Sports & Play

Toronto Raptors icons DeRozan and Lowry tell hilarious McDonald's story

Toronto teen dies while celebrating NFL playoff win

DeMar DeRozan says he wants to retire with the Toronto Raptors

'Locked in' Toronto Raptors are somehow turning their terrible season around

Here's how to watch the Super Bowl in Canada in 2025

New NHL change could finally give Toronto Maple Leafs edge over other teams

Two failed Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounders are still going strong in Europe

Ontario's 'best' snow tubing park has epic 10-storey drop