Report: Serge Ibaka to be in the dunk contest

According to the Los Angeles Times, Serge Ibaka will be a participant in this year’s dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. He’ll be joining Blake Griffin, JaVale McGee and Brandon Jennings.

I’m as shocked as you are? Ibaka? Seriously? If anyone was going to dunk from this team, I think we all expected Russell Westbrook.

Ibaka certainly has hops, but he’s more of a direct, straight line power finisher. There’s not a ton of sizzle to his dunks. He jumps high and throws down hard. I just can’t picture him getting overly creative and coming up with something that really wows people. I’m sure he’ll bring Westbrook or KD out as a helper at some point which will be cool though.

Actually here’s an idea: Russell Westbrook throws a pass to Ibaka and he finishes it, then Westbrook holds up a sign that says “TRIPLE-DOUBLE.” Good one, right?

Ibaka won a dunk contest in Europe a few years ago with a pretty sweet free throw line dunk. (Here’s a link to the video of that contest.)

Don’t get me wrong, I’m fired up about seeing the Air Congo as part of the dunk contest. I just didn’t see it coming. At all.

An official announcement is to be made Thursday on TNT.