Can Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka become an elite player?

When Oklahoma City Thunder big man Serge Ibaka was injured in the 2014 postseason, we saw just how valuable he is. Now, the Thunder are not only looking to keep him healthy but are looking for him to take another step forward.

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According to Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders, if Ibaka continues to improve from the outside, he can become an elite player.

"The combination of shooting and shot-blocking is a very rare one, especially at the power forward position. If they could pair him with a real center (and it looks like Adams may become that) OKC could raise their defense to a new level.I think you may be overrating his offense a bit though. Ibaka is not yet at the point where he is a truly elite shooter. He is not a guy that teams refuse to leave open at the three-point line, and he certainly does not have the ability to pick and pop from the three point line (which is what REALLY opens up the offense). If Ibaka can develop that skill in the next couple of years before his athleticism starts to wane, then he might reach that level."

With Ibaka’s ability to defend and rebound, if he can consistently hit shots from the outside, not only will he become a legitimate All-Star, but he could help the Oklahoma City Thunder get over their final hump and win a title.

Last season, Ibaka averaged 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 53.6% from the field, 38.3% from beyond the arc and 78.4% from the free throw line. Over the course of his five-year career, the 24th-overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft has put up 10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 0.5 assists per game while shooting 54.7% form the floor, 36.6% from three and 73.1% from the charity stripe.

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