Happy New Year from me and my dad! pic.twitter.com/GdRv4PU1FB

— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) January 1, 2019

Either that or the most fly NBA dad ever.

Ibaka’s backstory is incredible. Born in the Congo, his mother died when he was 8, and his father was imprisoned during the Congolese war for being on the wrong side of the battlefield while fleeing. Ibaka lived with some uncles before living on the streets, ultimately finding a home with his grandmother.

As a teen, he moved to Spain to play hoops where he taught himself Spanish and played basketball. He eventually was noticed by NBA scouts and taken 24th overall by the then “Seattle Supersonics.” After the team moved to OKC, he ultimately wound up in Toronto with a hefty 3 yr 65 million dollar extension after being acquired by the Raps from Orlando for my second least favorite Raptor ever, Terrence Ross.

Watching a twitter vid of Ibaka with a $1500 belt in a 7 million dollar Condo with his Dad in a Bespoke suit and Top hat piss you off?

He got up and ran for miles after his mom died, dad was jailed, and he lived on the streets alone some 20 years ago eating scraps to survive. He’d practice shooting in public parks with garbage and a garbage can. He moved to Spain to get off the streets and save his own life.

I’d say he’s earned it. His dad, too. I love stories like Ibaka’s. I love that Ibaka has a teenage daughter he just met. I love that he appreciates how hard life can be by living that life no one wants. I love that he’s 6’10 with an attitude. I love that he stretches the floor and never complains. I like that he has a cooking show of weird Congolese shit, I’ll never eat.

I don’t love that he gives money to the uncles that forced him to the streets as a child, but I do love that he forgave them and bought them a house. I wish I could be more like Serge Ibaka.

I also wish my dad was a pimp too.