Oklahoma City Thunder's Serge Ibaka Publicly Thanks God on Birthday

By Christine Thomasos, Christian Post Reporter Friday, September 19, 2014

NBA player Serge Ibaka pictured with singer girlfriend Keri Hilson. | (Photo: Serge Ibaka/Instagram)

Serge Ibaka turned 25 recently and made sure to publicly revere God while doing so.

Ibaka, the Oklahoma City Thunder big man, took to Twitter on Sept. 18 to acknowledge God on his 25th birthday.

"I woke up early today on my Birthday feeling blessed ‪#thankGOD‬," Ibaka wrote on both Twitter and Instagram.

The NBA player hailing from the Congo has been vocal about his Christian faith in the past. After injuring his calf in the 2014 Western Conference semi-finals, Ibaka let his fans know that his return to the court for the Western Conference finals was nothing short of miraculous.

"I believe in God, and I believe in miracles, and I believe that everything is possible," Ibaka told USA Today after his return to the court earlier this year. "When I did the MRI (on the calf), and the MRI showed us that I was really bleeding a lot, but I said, 'I just want to keep believing, man.'"

It seems Ibaka's Christian beliefs have also touched his singer-songwriter girlfriend of two years, Keri Hilson. The 31-year-old singer took to Twitter to wish her boyfriend a happy birthday.

"We are two different people from two completely different worlds, but we found each other. I'm thankful for every minute spent with you, and everything your presence in my life has taught me," she tweeted. "This day is your blessing, and you are mine. I love you! Happy Birthday, big guy!!!"

Although Hilson revealed that her relationship with Ibaka has positively impacted her life, she said that it came only after she decided to submit to Jesus Christ.

"I actually met him (Serge) maybe six months after I rededicated my life to Christ," Hilson previously revealed to Global Grind.

Still, she did not hesitate to admit that Ibaka was a gift from God.

"...I also felt like God is a comedian, for real. He gave me everything I wanted and everything I thought I didn't want," she previously told Global Grind. "He's like, 'Ha! You've got to trust me. Stop putting limits on who I am and what I do.'"