Than the Thunder They are favorites to get the NBA ring is a reality. The numbers, his defense and the individual talent of his template says it all. We talk about one of the youngest teams in history to reach the end of the best basketball league in the world. A true madness. The Oklahoma are four victories from the perfect season. A campaign where they have dominated over all teams with a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stratospheric. The MVP of this season has been key to understanding the irruption of some Thunder that, as they go, could create a new dynasty in the NBA. Of course, everything happens to win the ring to Indiana. However, although it may seem crazy, directly or indirectly, the Thunder have reached where they are thanks to a Spaniard. We speak neither more nor less than Serge Ibaka.
A domino effect
Ibaka landed in the NBA in 2008. He did it by the Thunder who faced their first season after Change Seattle for Oklahoma. The Spanish was key in its stage in OKC. It was one of the key pieces of the inner game of some Thunder that managed to reach the first finals of their history in 2012. In that team and, together with Ibaka, one of the best 'Big Three' in the history of the NBA was formed. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook y James Harden They formed a spectacular trident that was crowned as west champions in that 2012. However, in the final they fell to some Miami Heat that at the time had a legendary team that had Lebron James, Chris Bosh y Dwyane Wade.
Ibaka was a key piece in the Thunder of that moment until In 2016 he was transferred to the Magic in exchange for Victor Oladipipo and Domantas Sabonis.
The worst transfer in history?
After only one year, the Thunder decided to bet on one of the stars of the moment: Paul George. Those of Oklahoma sent Oladipo and Sabonis to Indiana in exchange for receiving PG to gather, in this way, a 'Big Three' formed by Paul George himself, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony. That team did not meet the expectations generated.
After several years of failure. Sam Presti, GM of the Thunder, decided to start rebuilding the team. In 2019, The one that could be the worst transfer of history became a reality Between the clippers and the Thunder. A business that would change the history of the two teams completely. The Thunder sent Paul George to the clippers in exchange for: Shai Gilgeous-Alxander, who at that time had just completed his rookie season, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round selections of the draft (some from the clippers and others of the Miami Heat) and finally, rights to exchange two future first-round selections with the clippers. An absolute barbarity for just one player.
De obedience in Satan
The turns that life gives. That transfer changed the story of both the clippers and the Thunder. Ibaka's transfer to the Magic in that 2016, generated a domino effect that, today, can culminate that those of Oklahoma can achieve their first title as a franchise from its transfer from Seattle. Before Indiana, Mark Daigneault's have a golden opportunity to touch the sky for the first time in their history.
