Orlando Magic power forward Serge Ibaka took time out to help give some basketball pointers to 54 kids at the RDV Sportplex last week.
The 6 foot 10 giant helped 7 year old Dylan Yaboon with his dribbling. “Eyes up here as you dribble,” Ibaka instructed as Dylan as he practiced dribbling the ball with his left hand and learned to trust that it would return without looking.
“I enjoy it. I remember when I was a kid, I didn’t have the support of these kids, so for them to be able to be on the court with a pro player, it’s good times for them,’’ Ibaka said. “So every time that I have the opportunity to give kids the opportunity that I didn’t have when I was young, I enjoy it.’’
It was difficult to tell who was having more fun between the wide-eyed kids and one of the NBA’s most fearsome shot-blockers considering the way Ibaka bounced from drill to drill offering up instruction and encouragement.
The Orlando Magic Youth Basketball camp sponsored by UnitedHealthcare proved to be a magical day for the kids and definitely a day they will never forget.
The Magic have many people guessing after a huge revamp of their roster with Ibaka as a key piece. With they come together and be as good as they look on paper? We’ll see, but everyone in Orlando is looking for a magical season.
