Inside Serge Ibaka and Keri Hilson’s Romance: Love, Basketball and Music

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Serge Ibaka, a Congolese-Spanish professional basketball player, and Keri Hilson dated from October 2012 to November 2016.

Keri Hilson and basketball player Serge Ibaka arrive at the BODY at ESPYS Pre-PartyKeri Hilson and basketball player Serge Ibaka arrive at the BODY at ESPYS Pre-Party held at Lure on July 15, 2014, in Hollywood, California (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Daniel Tanner / Hugh Dillon)

Keri Hilson and Serge Ibaka’s Previous Relationships

Before dating Serge Ibaka, Keri Hilson was involved with Lil’ Wayne from 2008 to 2009, had an encounter with Soulja Boy between 2009 and 2010, and was in a relationship with Trey Songz from 2009 to 2010. After her relationship with Ibaka, which lasted from 2012 to 2016, she was in a relationship with Ricardo Lockette in 2016.

Before his relationship with Keri Hilson, Serge Ibaka was in a relationship with Hedisa Visapa in 2011. Following his relationship with Hilson, he dated Angela Simmons from 2017 to 2018 and Cindy Bruna in 2021.

Serge Ibaka and Cindy Bruna attend the amfAR Gala Cannes 2022Serge Ibaka and Cindy Bruna attend the amfAR Gala Cannes 2022 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 26, 2022, in Cap d’Antibes, France (Credit: DDP / INSTARimages)

After calling it quits with her NBA boyfriend, Keri Hilson started preparing to release her third studio album, L.I.A.R. (Love is a Religion), and filmed scenes for a role as Jasmine in the 2016 American Christmas comedy-drama film Almost Christmas.

Life and Love in the Spotlight

In a November 2016 interview with Rolling Out, she revealed how her relationship with Serge Ibaka had prepared her for future love.

“I thought I found someone who’s also an exception. It wasn’t ‘enthralling’ for me to date an athlete. It was on my list of not to dos’ — no rappers, no actors and no ballplayers. I broke my rule because I thought I found someone different,” she said in November 2016. “It wasn’t an attraction to the status and the money.”

“What happens behind closed doors, that has become such a huge part of our interviews and what society wants to know about you…beyond the music,” she shared about being in a public relationship.

Keri Hilson and Serge Ibaka dated from October 2012 to November 2016Keri Hilson and Serge Ibaka dated from October 2012 to November 2016 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Daniel Tanner / Hugh Dillon)

“I will make different decisions in future relationships. When you put things on Front Street, it opens the door for opinions. It opens the door for wolves to attack. I certainly have been placed in that position where things have been written about me as it pertains to relationships that are so far from the truth. To me, that’s a personal attack. You can talk about my music all day, but when it comes to making up things and a character attack, I don’t take them well. It makes me want to be completely mysterious. You can’t really stop it though. It’s the climate we’re in.”

While Serge Ibaka is known as a serial womanizer and has a daughter named Ranie Ibaka from a previous relationship, Keri Hilson did not explicitly blame cheating for the breakup.

Santa Claus and singer-songwriter Keri Hilson attend Macy's Center City Holiday Window UnveilingSanta Claus and singer-songwriter Keri Hilson attend Macy’s Center City Holiday Window Unveiling at Macy’s Center City on November 17, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Daniel Tanner / Hugh Dillon)

Dealing With Public Scrutiny and Personal Attacks

“I am glad I grew up with pretty tough skin but none of it prepares you for this type of criticism because it’s not all constructive but coming from a place where it’s structured from destructive criticism. It can be difficult to deal with even for someone with as thick of skin as I have and as self-assured as I am [but] I am no different from other women when it comes to attraction to qualities of a man. I am pretty level headed. I want someone who loves God genuinely and respects women, [is] loyal. All the same things every woman wants.”

Fashion and Public Appearances

In January 2013, we had been watching for the unique “Janetta” pumps from Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. since we first saw their debut. Finally, Keri Hilson allowed us to feature them!

The singer wore these fun multi-colored pumps at the Gillette “Kiss & Tell” event at the Santa Monica Pier.

Keri Hilson attends the Gillette "Kiss and Tell" eventKeri Hilson attends the Gillette “Kiss and Tell” event in Santa Monica, California, on January 16, 2013 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Daniel Tanner / Hugh Dillon)

A Glimpse into Keri Hilson’s Style: The L.A.M.B. Janetta Pumps

Keri Hilson went for an edgy ensemble to match the vibes of her L.A.M.B. pumps, and we’re all about it.

She wore a Viktor Luna cutaway front blazer with an event-appropriate razor-blade-like metal print. When asked about her boyfriend, Serge Ibaka, she blushed and could only murmur a few words about him!

She finished her look with dark purple leggings and matching purple eye shadow.

Keri Hilson shows off her feet in a pair of L.A.M.B. shoesKeri Hilson shows off her feet in a pair of L.A.M.B. shoes (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Daniel Tanner / Hugh Dillon)

Here are more angles of Keri Hilson’s crazy cool shoes:

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