One of the former teammates of the Spanish basketball player of Congolese origin swing: the native of Brazzaville would be ten years older than his age. The interested party did not appreciate, and he made it known. Vigorously.
Kendrick Perkins on ESPN said that Serge Ibaka (33) lied about his age. The revelation had the ability to get the Milwaukee Bucks pivot off his feet. "Everyone kept saying," recalls the former Thunder, "Kevin Durant is only 23. Russell Westbrook is only 22. James Harden is also 22. Serge Ibaka is only 21,' even though he must have been more like 30 at the time, because we know some people lie about their age. But we're not going to get into that."
— Vladimir Popov (@DaWilliams504) December 26, 2022
On Twitter, the Congolese-born Spaniard (Congo Brazzaville) let out his anger at his former teammate. "Hey @KendrickPerkins, I don't usually react to comments about me," the Brazzaville native pointed out. But it's disappointing to hear someone I shared a locker room spread false information to make themselves look important and get ratings on TV and the networks."
Serge Ibaka added that he would have accepted criticism of his play. "But to throw that out there for no reason is really not acceptable," he rages. It's disrespectful to me, and I feel it's also disrespectful to many Africans who have to live with these unfounded accusations."
The 2019 NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors continues: "If I was 30 years old in OKC, would that mean I'm 45 now? The truth is I've never lied about my age, I work extremely hard every day without cheating, and I've never been suspended. Everyone in the league knows that. You, you cheated and didn't respect the game."
Ibaka says he's "disappointed" but "not surprised to see such actions taken by someone who got his job by breaking the locker room code and spreading lies about two of his former teammates and brothers like KD and Russ." He details, "When KD had a bad game, you criticized him behind his back. Same with Russ. You weren't a locker room leader, and you continued to do the same thing afterwards in the media."
The Spanish international concluded, "I understand the fact that everyone has to do their job and take care of their family, but you are proof that not everyone knows how to do it with class and dignity. I have more to throw at you, but I'm not that kind of person. But this time you went too far."
To this strong reaction from Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins responded on Twitter, "Bro, it was a damn joke. Stop being so fucking touchy."
Is the former Thunder sincere or is he trying to defuse?
