Serge Ibaka Quotes

When you're running next to a guy who's about to lay it up in transition, you just get out of the way because you know Giannis is coming to block it.

I've always loved blocking shots.

I don't back down. Like, I don't know how to flop. That's never been a part of my game. For me to know if a guy likes to turn left shoulder or right shoulder in the post, I have an advantage. Or if he likes to go left all the time, I have an advantage. Or if he can't make open jump shots, I have an advantage.

Anytime you're a defensive player and your eyes aren't on your key, you're going to have an issue.

You've gotta play a head game; especially blocking shots, you've gotta make it hard. You're playing against the best of the best: they're not gonna go straight to the basket, do a layup. You've gotta lure them into some shots.

My goal is simple - try and make sure my guy doesn't score. And if he does, make sure it's a contested two, or a tough shot.

I try to do a good job of contesting shots and blocking shots and altering shots, but I've got to do a better job of doing more.

Blocking a shot can really demoralize a person and defer them from coming to the rim the rest of the game. So being able to do that and change the landscape of the game by one play is pretty amazing.

My shot-blocking ability, it's really second to none.

If a guy is shooting a shot in the corner 70 percent of the missed shots usually come off that other side and 30 percent hits off the front rim so just playing the percentages and kind of studying your teammates' shots throughout the course of the game.

Until that moment comes when the ball comes to me every time, I have to find a way to be effective with offensive rebounds, play hard defense, blocking shots.

When you're playing a good team, not too many point guards want to go one on one. When you're playing a not-so-good team, teams that are fighting to make the playoffs, guys are going to want to try and get their own. It's just a different read of each team.

Always have your players go and pick-up the guy who draws the charge.

Why is Scottie Pippen taking a charge? Taking a charge is for people with no game!

It's how I've been playing my whole life, guarding the best player on the other team.

I am an attacking batsman, but I've learned a lot about patience. There are clever bowlers who can pick your weak points, so I have to be a bit patient, play out a spell or two.

I like playing size per position defensively.

There's a lot of things I can get better at as an individual, knowing where defenders are, having a better awareness. Those are things I can work on.

I was a guy that had a lot of tools and could do a lot of other things, but my main thing was controlling the defensive end of the court.

I love fast breaks, and I love playing full-court basketball, but offensively in the half court, I kind of take my time, let guys cut, and let the defense move. Then, if I have a move, I'll go. If not, I'll just hand it off to a teammate.

You mostly defend with your head, always reacting to the movement of opponents and teammates. I had to become more aware of that, play with much more consideration, the way you drive a car: you always need to look left, right, and the rear mirror to see what's going on around you.

I have the mind-set that a guard can't stick me. So I watch the bigs and see how they like to play. If you're a shot blocker, then I jump into you. If you take charges, then I pull up for the midrange.

At the World Cup, most teams changed their style when they played us and maybe were more defensive. In the final, we didn't know if Holland were going to do the same, but the important thing was we beat them in the end.

I like to always be able to contest shots. If you play against a player like Al Jefferson - he likes to pump-fake, so you need to be alert and quick. If he pump-fakes you and you go up, when you come back you need to go right back up to contest his shot.

You don't want to give the defensive back any signals about what route you're going to run.