Serge Ibaka is more than an excellent basketball player. He has mastered four languages.
After putting on a show carrying the Toronto Raptors to a win over the Washington Wizards, the sharply dressed NBA star wowed reporters with his linguistic skills.
In a clip that has gone viral with more than 1 million views, Ibaka was first asked in English about his dominant performance where he scored 23 points in only 33 minutes, had 12 rebounds, one assist and recorded two blocks. Spanish and French language reporters weren't shy about asking questions in their native language because he had them covered. (Watch below)
Prior to entering the NBA, he moved to France from the Republic of Congo at 16. Ibaka went to several countries, including Spain, where he had to learn different languages to live and blend in.
"By the time I was 19 years old, I had lived in five different cities in four different countries and three different continents," Ibaka wrote for Vice Sports. "Now, at 28 years old, Toronto is the ninth city I've lived in. It is also my new home."
He started his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing with other greats like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Now, he loves playing in The 6.
"When you are a young player in the NBA, sometimes you don't pay much attention to some of the cities you visit, especially in cold places like Toronto," he wrote. "But when you spend more time in the league you learn more about the cities you play in, and learn how to appreciate them more. This was the case with Toronto in my first years in the league."
