Title: Raptors’ options at centre now that Serge Ibaka is a Clipper
Date: November 22, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I looked at the Raptors options at centre with Serge Ibaka (and maybe Marc Gasol) moving on.
It hasn’t been a traditional babyface turn, exactly.
Serge Ibaka was never poorly liked, just perhaps misunderstood or lacking the confidence to show his true self. Over the past few years as a Toronto Raptor, no player has enjoyed a greater expansion of personality and a more dramatic shift in perception than Ibaka. He is a beloved teammate, a gregarious locker room presence and an emerging digital media star with his hands in fashion, music and philanthropy.
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The primary vehicle for Ibaka opening up was his YouTube series “How Hungry Are You?” In it, he cooked non-traditional dishes by North American standards for friends. In the series’ most shocking episode, Ibaka fed then-teammate Kawhi Leonard bull penis. It was remarkable not only because of, well, the bull penis, but also because it was 20 minutes of Leonard with his guard down, joking and having fun with cameras rolling. It was a rare and appreciated window into Leonard the person and a snapshot of just how great a culture piece Ibaka had grown into for Toronto.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 