It has been an excruciating wait for Serge Ibaka, seven long years between appearances in the NBA Finals, and there were times when he wondered if he’d ever get a chance on this stage again.
The Raptors centre has come through a restorative season, reclaiming his spot as a high-level, big-game performer after the creeping self-doubt of a year ago, and now that he is back near the pinnacle he will cherish the chance to further re-stake his claim.
“Being in this position now, I know how hard it is going back into the Finals, so I’m so thankful, so thankful,” Ibaka said Wednesday amid the media-day chaos at the Scotiabank Arena.