Los Angeles Clippers center Serge Ibaka will opt into his $9.7-million player option for the 2021-22 season, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Ibaka signed with the Clippers in 2020 following three-and-a-half campaigns with the Toronto Raptors. Although he averaged 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks last season, the 31-year-old missed 30 consecutive contests after suffering a back injury following the All-Star break.
Ibaka returned for Los Angeles' final two regular-season matchups, followed by Games 1 and 2 of the first round against the Dallas Mavericks, before again returning to the sidelines. Midway through the team's conference semifinals series against the Utah Jazz, the Clippers announced he'd undergone back surgery and he wouldn't return for the playoffs.
Over 12 NBA seasons, Ibaka owns career averages of 12.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and two blocks while shooting 35.9% from distance.
