Serge Ibaka, Al Horford, or Jonas Valančiūnas—who stands out as the best veteran big? Compare NBA players in this ultimate showdown!
In their free time, people all around enjoy various sports they engage in and viewing of which. We shall discuss the jewels of the National Basketball Association (NBA), since we are discussing that organization. In the last series, we examined two NBA players with varying skill sets and attributes who would have utilized them on the basketball floor. We elevate one player here in this series, so we can state that three players will be under discussion.
We shall discuss their statistics, special playing techniques, and skill set. We will also stress the education, height, weight, and many other factors that can help one grasp the athletes’ differences. Let’s start the blog and discuss three athletes who are
Serge Ibaka
Serge Ibaka was born on September 18, 1989, in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. It was his mother, Amadou Djonga, who first introduced him to the sport of basketball. He grew up in a family that was quite active. During his time at INSEP in Paris, France, Ibaka was able to hone his skills and establish himself as a player of exceptional caliber.
He is 235 pounds (107 kilograms) in weight and stands at a height of 2.11 meters (6 feet 11 inches). On the night of the draft, Ibaka was moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite the fact that the Seattle SuperSonics had selected him with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.
While playing for the Thunder from 2009 to 2016, Ibaka was a power forward and a center. During his time with the Thunder, he was honored with a number of trophies and distinctions, including three selections to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
It was in 2016 that he was traded to the Orlando Magic, and he played for the Magic from 2016 to 2017. In 2017, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors. In 2019, Ibaka was a member of the Raptors team that won the NBA championship.
Ibaka has established himself as a formidable defender and stretch four in his professional career. He is well-known for his excellent talents to block shots, rebound, and hit three-point shots. He has finished his career with a scoring average of over 12 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks per game on average.
In addition to his humanitarian activities, Ibaka has been an active philanthropist, working with a variety of charitable organizations to promote initiatives aimed at fostering youth development and education in his home country of Congo. As a player for the Los Angeles Clippers, he continues to be an important contributor to the success of the team. He is presently playing for the Clippers.
Career highlights and awards
- NBA champion (2019)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2012–2014)
- 2× NBA blocks leader (2012, 2013)
- BBL champion (2024)
- German Cup winner (2024)
Al Horford
Al Horford was born on June 3, 1986, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. He has a height of 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) and a weight of 240 pounds (109 kilograms). Later in his life, Horford played college basketball at the University of Florida, where he also received a degree in business administration. Horford attended Grand Ledge High School, which is located in the state of Michigan.
When it comes to basketball, Horford is noted for his versatility, shooting ability, and defensive prowess. He plays both center and power forward. He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks as the third overall pick in the NBA draft in 2007.
Since then, he has played for the Hawks from 2007 to 2016, the Boston Celtics from 2016 to 2019, the Philadelphia 76ers from 2019 to 2020, and the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2020 at the current time.
Horford has been a steady and dominant player throughout his whole professional career. As a result, he has been selected for five players to the NBA All-Star team and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice.
In addition to playing in more than 900 games throughout the regular season, he has averaged more than 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists a game per game. In addition to playing alongside other talented players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort, Horford continues to be an important contributor to the Thunder.
Career highlights and awards
- NBA champion (2024)
- 5× NBA All-Star (2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018)
- All-NBA Third Team (2011)
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2018)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2008)
- 2× NCAA champion (2006, 2007)
- Second-team All-American – NABC (2007)
- Third-team All-American – AP (2007)
- SEC tournament MVP (2007)
Jonas Valančiūnas
Jonas Valančiūnas was born on May 6, 1992, in Utena, Lithuania. In terms of height, he is 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 meters) and weighs 265 pounds (120 kilograms). Before being selected by the Toronto Raptors with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, Valančiūnas had a successful career as a professional basketball player in both Lithuania and Greece.
The center Valančiūnas is renowned for his exceptional ability in rebounding, shot-blocking, and low-post scoring. He plays the position of center. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2013, and he played for the Toronto Raptors from 2012 to 2019, as well as the Memphis Grizzlies from 2019 to the present.
Valančiūnas has consistently demonstrated his dominance and consistency as a big man throughout his whole professional career. He has consistently averaged over 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block per game. Additionally, he has been an important contributor to the Lithuanian national team, which culminated in the Lithuanian team winning the gold medal at the EuroBasket tournament in 2015.
Despite the presence of other excellent players like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Valančiūnas is an indispensable member of the Grizzlies team.
Career highlights and awards
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2013)
- 2× FIBA Young Player of the Year (2011, 2012)
- All-EuroCup First Team (2012)
- EuroCup Rising Star (2012)
- LKL champion (2010)
- 2× LKL Most Improved Player (2011, 2012)
- LKL MVP (2012)
- LKL Domestic Player of the Year (2012)
- 2× LKL blocks leader (2011, 2012)
- 2× All-LKL Team (2011, 2012)
- 3x All-LKL Defensive Team (2010–2012)
- LKF Cup winner (2010)
- 3× LKL All-Star (2010–2012)
- 2× LKL All-Star Game MVP (2011, 2012)
- All-VTB United League First Team (2012)
- VTB United League rebounding leader (2012)
- VTB United League blocks leader (2012)
- 5× Lithuanian Player of the Year (2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021)
- FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP (2011)
Conclusion
We highlight three NBA players whose talent, skills, and differences merit comparison. Every one of the players have unique skills. Every player has obviously passed through several benchmarks. Although some started later and some started quite early, we cannot overlook their efforts and battle on the basketball floor. Sports are constantly vibrant through passion and by the player’s dedication. Similar players have been under discussion in the past. You can read, “Derrick Rose, Derrick White, or Eric Bledsoe: Who’s the Top Guard?” and investigate more fresh things about legends of the NBA if you wish to explore more NBA players.
FAQs – Compare NBA Players
Was Serge Ibaka an all-star?
Serge Ibaka was not selected for the All-Star team in his career
Does Serge Ibaka have a ring?
Serge Ibaka won 1 championship in his career.
How many All Stars does Al Horford have?
Five-time NBA All-Star
Do Al Horford have a ring?
He’s waited 17 years for his NBA championship
Did JV get a ring?
They will not be giving rings to their former players.
How many years has Jonas Valanciunas been in the NBA?
Seven years
